A 59-year-old man, Nwokedi Emeka Jonas, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos for conspiracy and unlawful dealing in 4.9 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a drug with similar effects to cocaine and heroin.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa convicted Jonas after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The prosecution, led by Mr Ibrahim Abu, informed the court that Jonas was arrested with the illicit substance on January 14, 2025, in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos. He stated that the defendant had conspired with an individual named Anyanwu, residing in Canada, to commit this offence.

According to the prosecution, Jonas’s actions contravened sections 14(b) and 19 of the NDLEA Act, punishable under the same Act.

Following Jonas’ guilty plea, the prosecutor presented the facts of the case and tendered exhibits, which the court admitted.

Defence counsel Dennis Warri pleaded with the court for leniency, stressing Jonas’s status as a first-time offender. He urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence or a fine as an alternative to imprisonment.

After confirming with the prosecutor that Jonas had no prior criminal record, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced him to five years imprisonment. However, the judge also offered Jonas the option of paying a N5 million fine in lieu of serving the prison term.