A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced two men, Ugwuja Kingsley Ejiofor and Okon Joe Christopher, for trafficking in 58.6 kilograms of cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana.

 

Justice Musa Kakaki handed down the sentences after the defendants pleaded guilty to separate charges filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

 

Ejiofor was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful importation of 56 kilograms of the prohibited drug, while Christopher, 37, faced a one-count charge of unlawful dealing in 2.6 kilograms of the substance.

 

According to the prosecution, led by Peter Ekuri, the offences contravened Sections 14(a), 11(a), and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

 

The prosecutor told the court that Ejiofor conspired with an accomplice still at large to import the наркотic substance from Accra, Ghana, into Nigeria on February 19, 2026. He was also accused of unlawfully importing the drug into the country without authorisation.

 

Christopher, on his part, was arrested on May 30, 2026, at the Ladipo Canal area of Mushin, Lagos, for dealing in 2.6 kilograms of cannabis.

 

Both defendants admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty. Following their pleas, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case, tendered exhibits, and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

 

Defence counsel, G. U. Okaka and Chief Lilian Omotunde, in separate allocutus, pleaded for leniency, noting that the convicts were first-time offenders with no prior criminal records.

 

In his judgment, Justice Kakaki sentenced Ejiofor to two years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N10 million fine.

 

Christopher was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.

 

The judge held that the sentences were in line with the provisions of the NDLEA Act under which the defendants were charged.