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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Kala today convicted and sentenced one Gabriel Michael who is studying in Italy to two years imprisonment or N500,000 fine for trafficking in 12.7Okilograms of Tramadol a banned substance.
In case the defendant chooses to pay fine, Justice Kala ordered him to perform 30 days community service under the supervision if the Nigeria Correctional Service.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has dragged Gabriel Michael to court alleging that he some times on or about the 5th day of September 2025 during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Air France to Paris at the Gate ‘C’ Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority exported 12.7Okilograms of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and thereby committed an act which is 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.
When the matter came up for trial today, NDLEA prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim informed the court of the pendency of a one count charge and urged the court to order that the charge be read so that the defendant can take his plea.
The charge was then read on the order of Justice Kala and the defendant pleaded guilty to same.
Following Michael’s plea of guilt, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case by tendering relevant documents and the bulk of the exhibits. He then urged the court to convict the defendant on the weight of the evidence adduced and the guilty plea of the defendant.
Justice Kala after reviewing the submission of the prosecutor, convicted the defendant as charged.
In his allocutus, on behalf of Gabriel Michael, the defence counsel Mr Uche Okoronkwo pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, describing the defendant as a first-time offender and a victim of circumstance.
He noted that the defendant did not waste the court’s precious time, having pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity adding that this timely plea of guilt can be construed as a sign of remous.
Okoronkwo further submitted that the purpose of justice is not only punitive, but also reformatory, urging the court to consider a non-custodial sentence to enable the defendant continue his studies abroad.
In his judgment, Justice Kala observed that considering the defendant’s demeanour and the fact that he is currently pursuing studies overseas, it was appropriate to temper justice with mercy.
Consequently, the court sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment or in the alternative, the payment of N500,000 fine with 30 days community service.
Justice Kala also ordered that the seized Cannabis Sativa should be destroyed after the expiration of period of appeal.
The charge against the defendant reads: That you Gabriel Michael, female, adult on or about the 5th day of September 2025 during the outward clearance of passengers aboard Air France to Paris at the Gate ‘C’ Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority exported 12.7Okilograms of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an act which is an offence conirary to and punishable under section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30. Laws of the Feceration
of Nigeria, 2004.
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