NAHCO cargo manager sentenced to three years in prison for drug trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced Adakole Ogwuche, a cargo manager with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO), to three years’ imprisonment.

The court, presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki decided on Tuesday while passing judgment in a charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against Ogwuche, marked FHC/L/784c/2025.

Ogwuche was found guilty on two counts bordering on theft, unlawful possession, and trafficking of 25 kilograms of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, a prohibited substance similar in nature to hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.

The conviction followed Ogwuche’s admission of guilt during his arraignment, where he pleaded guilty to both counts of the charge.

In addressing the court, the counsel for the prosecution, Abu Ibrahim, stated that the offences were committed on April 28, 2025, at the NAHCO Import Shed, a designated Customs Area/Port within the Ikeja-Lagos international airport complex.

Ibrahim equally informed the court that the convict unlawfully possessed the controlled drug, which was said to have been stolen from a shipment warehoused by a pharmaceutical company, Vitabiotics Nigeria Limited, and the consignment was sold for the sum of ₦15 million.

Following Ogwuche’s guilty plea, supported by evidence provided by the investigating officer and various exhibits tendered, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Furthermore, the prosecution moved for an order mandating the forfeiture of the entire ₦15 million, being the undisputed proceeds of the illicit criminal activities, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In his allocution, the defence lawyer, I. C. Effiong pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

Effiong cited a plethora of legal authorities in an attempt to secure a lenient judgment for the NAHCO cargo manager.

Delivering his verdict, Justice Kakaki sentenced Ogwuche to three years on the first count (unlawful possession) and two years on the second count (dealing/trafficking).

The judge ordered that the jail terms should run concurrently, meaning the convict will only spend the duration of the longer sentence (three years) in custody.

The court granted the NDLEA’s application for forfeiture, ordering the immediate forfeiture of the sum of ₦13 million found in the convict’s Stanbic-IBTC bank account to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In addition, the judge ordered the convict to make restitution of the remaining ₦2 million, being the outstanding balance of the ₦15 million illicit proceeds, and pay the sum to the Federal Government.

The charges read in part that “Ogwuche, an adult male, did unlawfully possess 25 kilograms of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the said Act,” and that he “without lawful authority dealt in 25 kilograms of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the said Act,” referring to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap, N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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