Crime
PHOTOS: Court sentences Italy-based Nigerian man to 15 years imprisonment for trafficking 1.30kg of tramadol
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced a serial drug trafficker, Solomon Adegbite, to 15 years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine for trafficking 1.30 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225 mg, a prohibited narcotic substance.
According to the first count of the charge, Adegbite was arrested on July 22, 2025, during the outward clearance of passengers on a Royal Air Maroc flight bound for Italy via Casablanca, Morocco, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The NDLEA alleged that he knowingly possessed 1.30kg of Tramadol 225mg, which he concealed inside a thick winter jacket he was wearing in an attempt to evade airport security screening.
Adegbite has been arrested three time for drug-related offences, including in 2024.
The court, presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki, delivered the sentence on Wednesday after convicting Adegbite on a 15-count charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Adegbite, a 41-year-old Nigerian resident in Italy, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
The NDLEA, through its prosecutor, Juliana Imaobong Iroabuchi, had earlier arraigned the defendant before the court in February 2026, following his arrest over the illicit drug consignment.
He was subsequently remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the review of facts.
Although the matter suffered delays on two occasions after the prosecution informed the court that the exhibits intended to be tendered were not ready, the case eventually proceeded on March 16, 2026.
At the resumed hearing, an NDLEA operative, Okey Emmanuel, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered relevant exhibits before the court.
Following the review, the prosecutor urged the court to convict the defendant based on his guilty plea and the evidence presented.
Justice Kakaki thereafter convicted Adegbite, with no objection raised by his counsel, Augustine Nwagu, and adjourned the matter to March 18, 2026, for sentencing.
At the sentencing hearing, defence counsel Augustine Nwagu pleaded for leniency on behalf of the convict, describing him as a young man with several dependants who rely on him for support.
He told the court that Adegbite was remorseful and had learned from his actions, urging the judge to temper justice with mercy and grant him an option of fine.
However, the NDLEA prosecutor strongly opposed the plea.
Iroabuchi argued that granting an option of fine would send the wrong message to society, especially given the devastating impact of hard drugs on victims and communities.
She further told the court that Adegbite was an unrepentant repeat offender, noting that this was allegedly the third time he had been arrested for drug-related offences.
The prosecutor also urged the court to consider the commercial quantity of the seized narcotic.
After listening to both parties, Justice Kakaki sentenced Adegbite to prison terms across 13 of the 15 counts, with the sentences to run as pronounced by the court.
Specifically, the judge sentenced Adegbite to 15 years’ imprisonment on count 1, 15 years’ imprisonment on count 2, 15 years’ imprisonment on count 3, 15 years’ imprisonment on count 4, 15 years’ imprisonment on count 5, 15 years’ imprisonment on count 6, 10 years’ imprisonment on count 7, 4 years’ imprisonment on count 8, 4 years’ imprisonment on count 9, 4 years’ imprisonment on count 10, 4 years’ imprisonment on count 11, 4 years’ imprisonment on count 12, and 10 years’ imprisonment on count 15.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of several items to the Federal Government of Nigeria, including Adegbite’s Italian residence permit, his Nigerian international passport, a Samsung Galaxy A22 mobile phone, his bank accounts linked to Aderevico Pharmacy, and other assets associated with the pharmacy business.
The anti-narcotics agency further alleged that the defendant attempted to manipulate his travel documents during his third arrest by exchanging his valid Italian residence permit with an expired one.
The offence is punishable under Sections 11(d) and 20(a)(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
FOLLOW US ON:
Crime
PHOTOS: N10 billion Cocaine, Loud, opioids intercepted at Lagos ports as NDLEA arrests kingpins
A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.
According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.
FOLLOW US ON:
A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.
According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.
They expressed relief following his apprehension.
FOLLOW US ON:
Reps order IG to produce fake, PFIPC agency DG Adeyemi within 48 hours
Forged state house letter used to create fake PFIPC agency, Acct-General reveals
See full list of African countries that do not need proof of funds for UK’s student visa
‘Sleeping Prince’ of Saudi Arabia dies after 20 years in coma
How A Class Of 24 Students Produced 2 Presidents, 4 Governors, 2 Ministers, 4 Emirs, 3 Justices, 4 Ambassadors and Other Influential Leaders
2027: Atiku delays ADC membership card collection amid rumoured Jonathan comeback
The Nigerian Civil War officially ended in 1970—but has the mindset it created truly disappeared?
Video – Chief Imam of Yorubaland Makes Bold Promises to the People of Kogi State
Chief Imam of Yorubaland Visits the Palace of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo to Strengthen Yoruba Unity
-
News10 hours agoFG budgets nearly N1tn for empowerment, SUVs amid rising borrowing pressure
-
Sports10 hours ago
Chukwueze set for crunch pre-season tasks
-
Politics10 hours ago
APC drafts Omisore into 276-member Osun gov campaign council
-
Sports10 hours ago
Flying Eagles face Ghana in WAFU B opener
-
Videos19 hours ago
🇳🇬 Nigeria Is Moving Forward – Kaduna–Lokoja Super Highway Inspires Hope!
-
Politics10 hours agoObasanjo’s role in Obi-Kwankwaso ticket sparks fresh controversy
-
Sports10 hours ago
See you on the pitch, Okoronkwo replies racists
-
News9 hours ago
Why I blocked terrorists when my wife was abducted – Oyo principal’s husband
