A Federal High Court in Lagos has handed down a significant prison sentence to a dispatch rider convicted of trafficking large quantities of prohibited drugs, including tramadol.
Court Convicts Rider on Four Counts
Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced 33-year-old Yahaya Nuru to a total of seven years’ imprisonment on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The conviction followed Nuru's guilty plea to a four-count charge brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The prosecutor, Peter Ekuri, informed the court that the offences occurred in November 2025 at No. 6 Ashogbon Street, Lagos Island. Ekuri stated that Nuru conspired with two other individuals, Abdulrazak and Chukwu Emmanuel Emeka, who remain at large, to unlawfully deal in controlled substances.
Large Drug Haul Intercepted
Upon his arrest, Nuru was found in possession of a substantial cache of drugs intended for distribution. The seized items included:
- 4.12 kilograms of tramadol hydrochloride.
- 40 millilitres of tramadol hydrochloride injection.
- One litre of diazepam injection.
- 1.04 litres of tramadol hydrochloride injection.
Ekuri explained that the defendant was apprehended while planning to dispatch these substances to various buyers. The charges contravened Sections 20(1)(a) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, punishable under Section 20(2)(a).
Sentencing and Plea for Leniency
Following the guilty plea, the prosecution urged the court to convict and sentence Nuru in accordance with the law, specifically citing Section 247(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The defence counsel pleaded for mercy, highlighting that Nuru was a first-time offender who had saved the court's valuable time by admitting his guilt promptly.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki acknowledged the allocutus and the defendant's status as a first-time offender. He then pronounced the sentence:
- Four years on count one.
- Five months on count two.
- One month on count three.
- Three years on count four.
The court also imposed fines as an alternative to imprisonment: N300,000, N30,000, N50,000, and N200,000 on the respective counts. Justice Kakaki directed that both the prison terms and the fine options shall run concurrently.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's firm stance against drug trafficking and the severe legal consequences for those involved in the illicit trade of controlled substances in Nigeria.
