Man remanded for exporting cocaine, cannabis in Lagos

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the remand of a middle-aged man, Uche Ezeh, who pleaded guilty to exporting 4.40 kilograms of cocaine and 11.50 kilograms of cannabis sativa at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until December 12, 2025, when the court will review the facts and sentence the defendant.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arraigned Ezeh on a four-count charge marked FHC/L/30/2025 before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

Before Ezeh’s arraignment, the prosecution applied to substitute him for Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, who had been standing trial on the same charge.

The prosecuting counsel, Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that Ekeocha’s discharge became necessary following the arrest of the “main drug dealer,” Ezeh.

Justice Aneke discharged Ekeocha accordingly. After the substitution, the prosecutor asked the court to allow the new charge to be read to Ezeh so he could enter his plea. The defence counsel, P. U. Okenyi, did not oppose the request. The four counts were read to Ezeh, and he pleaded guilty to all.

The NDLEA told the court that on November 5, 2024, Ezeh procured Ekeocha Anayo Nelson to export 4.40 kilograms of cocaine concealed in foodstuffs during the examination of cargoes bound for the United Kingdom via Cologne, Germany, at the NAHCO Export Shed, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was also accused of personally exporting the same quantity of cocaine on the same date and through the same airport facility.

The NDLEA further alleged that on May 12, 2025, Ezeh procured Olowolehin Sunday Olabode to export 11.50 kilograms of cannabis sativa, concealed in packs of plantain chips, also through the NAHCO Export Shed.

The agency said he similarly exported the same quantity of cannabis without lawful authority on that date.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 21(2)(d) and 20(1)(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and are punishable under Sections 11(b) and 20(2)(a) of the Act.