Four drivers bag 13 years imprisonment for transportation of 1.2 tonnes of tramadol
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos has convicted and sentenced four young men to 13 years imprisonment for unlawful transportation of 1, 234 kilograms of tramadol.
The convicts who were arraigned before Justice Aluko include two truck drivers and their two “motor boys” Kabiru Jabir, 23; Abdullahi Abubakar, 22; Muhammed Nuhu, 22; and Abdulrazaq Mustapha, 22.
The trial judge convicted and sentenced the defendants to the term of imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a two counts-charge filed against them by the anti-narcotic agency.
When the matter came up for arraignment on Thursday, NDLEA prosecutor, Mr Buhari Abdullahi informed the court that Jabir and Abubakar were involved in the transportation of 638 Kilogrames of Tramadol on July 2, 2026, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Buhari further informed the court that the two men transported the consignment from Ogere, Ogun State to Lagos State without lawful authority, using a Howo Sino truck with registration number DED 633 XC and chassis number LZZPBYSF4MF324168.
The prosecutor further informed the court that Nuhu and Mustapha transported another 597 Kilogrames of Tramadol on the same date and route, in another Howo Sino truck, with registration number DED 630 XC and chassis number LZZ5BXSF6MF321165 . He added that the convicts’ illegal acts contravened Sections 11(b) and 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Following the reading of the charge, the convicts admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to same.
Based on their plea of guilt, the prosecutor through a witness reviewed the facts of the case, by tendering relevant exhibits, which includes parts of the bulk of the prohibited drugs and their confessional Statements.
The prosecutor thereafter urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants based on their plea of guilt and the further evidence adduced.
Buhari also urged the court to order for the forfeiture of the two trucks which were used as instrumentalities for the conveyance of the prohibited drugs,
However, counsel to the convicts, Emmanuel Uchenna Okenyin in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be merciful with his clients on the ground that they were first time offenders, who did not waste the time of the court by pleading guilty at earliest as possible time.
Okeyin also pleaded with the court to give his clients a non-custodial sentence.
In his judgement, Justice Aluko after considering the evidence adduced by the prosecution and the circumstances of the case, sentenced both Kabiru Jabir and Abdullahi Abubakar to seven years imprisonment each, while Muhammed Nuhu and Abdurazaq Mustapha were sentenced to six years imprisonment each.
The trial judge however ordered Kabir and Abdullahi to pay N10 million each as fine in lieu of term of imprisonment, while Muhammed and Abdulrazaq were ordered to pay the sum of N8 million as fine option.
Justice Aluko also ordered the final forfeiture of the two trucks: Howo Sino Truck with Registration Number: DED 633 XC and Chassis Number: LZZPBYSF4MF324168, and Howo Sino Truck with Registration Number: DED 630 XC, that were used to convey the prohibited drug to the Federal government of Nigeria.
Charges against the convicts read: “that you Kabiru Jabir, Male, 23 years old, and ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR, Male, 22 years old, on or about the 2nd day of July, 2026, at Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, transported 638 Kilograms of Tramadol a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, LSD and Heroin from Ogere, Ogun State to Lagos State using a Howo Sino Truck with Registration Number :DED 633 XC and Chassis Number: LZZPBYSF4MF324168 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Muhammed Nuhu, Male, 22 years old, and Abdulrazaq Mustapha, Male, 22 years old, on or about the 2nd day of July, 2026, at Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, transported 597 Kilograms of Tramadol a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, LSD and Heroin from Ogere, Ogun State to Lagos State using a Howo Sino Truck with Registration Number: DED 630 XC and Chassis Number: LZZ5BXSF6MF321165 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
