Man who returned from Canada gets 11 years for cannabis import

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a man who returned from Canada, Abimbola Daniel, to 11 years in prison for illegally bringing in and having 2.5kg of cannabis.

Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the sentence on Monday after Daniel admitted guilt to two charges brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The charges, labeled FHC/LAG/CR/609/2026, were about the illegal importation and possession of cannabis.

The prosecutor, Arit Okon, told the court that Daniel brought the banned drug into Nigeria from Canada on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Okon explained that the cannabis was hidden in cargo with waybill number 07161185795.

The prosecutor added that Daniel used Afriway Cargo and Logistics, based at 20B, Anthony Udo Avenue, International Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos, to clear the cargo.

He was arrested when he came to pick up the cargo after it arrived in Nigeria.

The prosecutor said that the investigation following his arrest led to the charges against him.

According to NDLEA, the actions violated Sections 11(2) and 20(1) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and are punishable under Section 20(2) of the Act.

When the charges were read, Daniel accepted he committed the crimes and pleaded guilty.

After his plea, the prosecution, represented by an exhibit keeper with the NDLEA, Abdullahi Musa, presented the details of the case and submitted evidence, which the court accepted.

The prosecution then asked the court to convict and sentence Daniel based on his guilty plea and the evidence presented.

However, Daniel's lawyer, Benson Ndakara, along with Dennis Warri, appealed to the court for leniency.

The defense team urged the court to consider Daniel’s early guilty plea and the fact that he had no previous criminal record.

They also referenced Sections 311(2)(c) and 412(2)(c) of the ACJA 2015, asking for a non-custodial sentence.

After hearing from both sides, Justice Aluko sentenced Daniel to five years for the first charge and six years for the second charge.

The judge also offered him the option to pay a fine of N500,000 for the first charge and N600,000 for the second charge instead of serving time.

The charges stated that on July 14, 2026, during the clearance of cargo with waybill number 07161185795 on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Canada at the Customs Import Shed, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he unlawfully imported 2.5kg of cannabis.

He was also accused of unlawfully possessing 2.5kg of cannabis on July 15, 2026, at Afriway Cargo and Logistics, Ajao Estate, Ikeja, Lagos.