32-Year-Old Woman Receives 15-Year Sentence for Drug Trafficking in Lagos, Nigeria

On Tuesday, a 32-year-old woman, Oladitan Olufunmilayo, was handed a 15-year prison sentence by a Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria, for her involvement in drug trafficking of prohibited substances. Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the verdict after Olufunmilayo pleaded guilty to five separate counts of trafficking in banned drugs brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The NDLEA’s prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, provided details of the case in court, explaining that Olufunmilayo was apprehended on November 3, 2022, at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Export Shed, located at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. The arrest occurred during the examination and clearance of cargo destined for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Nwagu revealed that the drugs found in Olufunmilayo’s possession at the time of her arrest included seven grams of cocaine, 11 grams of methamphetamine, 52 grams of cannabis sativa, 47 grams of tramadol (225mg), and 106 grams of Rohypnol. The prosecutor emphasized that the offenses committed by the convict were in direct violation of Sections 11(b) and 20(1)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Furthermore, they are punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.

During the arraignment, Olufunmilayo entered a guilty plea, prompting the prosecutor to request that the court convict and sentence her in accordance with the relevant sections of the law. However, Olufunmilayo’s counsel, Dennis Warri, appealed to the court to exercise leniency in determining her sentence, citing that his client was a first-time offender.

In his final ruling, Justice Osiagor handed down a three-year sentence for each count, accompanied by an optional N350,000 fine and a one-week prison term for each charge. The judge also ordered that the sentences be served concurrently, ultimately resulting in a total imprisonment of 15 years for Olufunmilayo.