The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two men, Ehiarimwian Osarobo Emmanuel and Olagunju Abass Ayodeji, to five and three years imprisonment respectively for smuggling Tramadol, a prohibited drug.

Emmanuel is physically challenged.

Justice Daniel Osiagor convicted the duo after they both pleaded guilty to a count charge each made against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Justice Osiagor sentenced Emmanuel to three years and Ayodeji to five years imprisonment respectively.

The judge, however, gave Ehiarimwian an option of N50, 000, fine, while Olagunju, was given a fine of N30, 000, in lieu of a custodial sentence.

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The judge also ordered that the bulk of the seized Tramadol be destroyed by the NDLEA if there is no appeal against the judgment within the stipulated period and that the convicts’ international passports be confiscated by the Federal Government.

Arraigning the convicts on separate charges marked FHC/L/489c/2022 and FHC/L/504c/2022, NDLEA prosecutors, Abu Ibrahim and Augustine Nwagu, informed the court that Ehiarimwian, was arrested on August 28, 20022, at the departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos during the outward clearance of passengers, with 2.65 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, which he intended to smuggle to Milan, Italy.

The court heard that 25-year-old Olagunju was arrested on August 24, 2022, also at the departure hall of the MMIA during the outward clearance of passengers, with 400 grammes of Tramadol, which he wanted to smuggle to Oman, an Asia county.

The prosecutors said the offence contravened Sections 11(b) and 20(1)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, 2004 and was punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.