Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Federal High Court , Lagos today convicted a 50-year -old woman Halima Abdulahi to one year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 over illegal possession of 50 packs of Tramadol worth N400,000.
According to the charge, Halima Abdulahi was arrested at the ECOWAS border post Seme border, Lagos State on October 2, 2025 with 50 packets of Tramadol weighing 4.6 kilogrammes .
When the matter came up for arraignment today, prosecutor from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Chibuzor Ohanyere informed the court of the pendency of a one count charge a d pleaded with the court to order that the charge be read so that Halima can take her plea.
The charge was then read on the order of the court and the defendant pleaded guilty to same.
Following the guilty plea of the defendant , the facts of the case was reviewed by NDLEA prosecutor, Chibizor Ohanyere who tendered relevant exhibits to back up the prosecution’s case
Chibuzor thereafter urged the court to convict the defendant based on the weight of the evidence adduced by the prosecution , the exhibit tendered and in line with Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.
Justice Kala after listening to the submission of Chibuzor and in the absence of opposition by counsel to the defendant, Justice Kala convicted the defendant as charge.
Consequent upon the conviction , counsel yo the convict, Mrs Vivian Ekwegh made allocutus on his behalf.
In her allocutus, Ekweigh pleaded for mercy on behalf of the convict adding that he is a first time offender who did not waste the time of the court.
She added that the convict is now remorseful and would do things better if granted another opportunity.
Ekwegh stated that the convict acted in ignorance thinking Tramadol is the same thing as Paracetamol.
Justice Kala after listening to the allocutus, sentence the convict to one year imprisonment or payment of N500,000 fine with 30 days community service.
