A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a businesswoman, Eletu Rashidat Adebanjo, to five years’ imprisonment—with an option of a ₦3 million fine—for trafficking cannabis, tramadol, and diazepam.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa convicted Adebanjo after she pleaded guilty to a three-count charge bordering on unlawful possession of prohibited substances, brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under charge number FHC/LAG/CR/467/2026.
Although the court handed down five years in prison or a ₦3 million fine on each of the three counts, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ordered that both the prison terms and the fine options run concurrently—effectively making the total punishment five years’ imprisonment or a ₦3 million fine.
The Arrest and Prosecution
During the hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, told the court that NDLEA operatives arrested Adebanjo on October 23, 2026, at her shop in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos State.
Operatives reportedly recovered 3.7 kilograms of cannabis sativa, 2.25 kilograms of diazepam, and 0.55 grams of tramadol during the raid. Ibrahim stated that the offences contravene Section 20(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 20(2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following Adebanjo’s guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the recovered drugs alongside her confessional statement as exhibits before urging the court to convict and sentence her accordingly.
Defence Pleads for Leniency
In his plea for mitigation, defence counsel Dr. Dada Awosika (SAN) urged the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that his client was a first-time offender who showed remorse and saved the court’s time by entering a guilty plea. He appealed to the judge to grant her a non-custodial sentence or an option of fine in lieu of jail time.
After considering the allocutus and confirming that the defendant had no prior criminal record, Justice Lewis-Allagoa imposed the concurrent jail terms with the option of fine.
