Canada returnee bags 11-year jail over cannabis trade

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a Canadian national, Abimbola Daniel, to 11 years in prison for unlawful importation and possession of 2.5kg of cannabis. Justice Akintayo Aluko handed down the sentence on Monday after Daniel pleaded guilty to the charges filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The offense, marked FHC/LAG/CR/609/2026, involved Daniel importing the prohibited substance from Canada on an Ethiopian Airlines flight and subsequently possessing it at Afriway Cargo and Logistics in Lagos.

Prosecutors stated that Daniel was arrested upon attempting to collect the consignment at the airport. Under Nigerian law, Daniel's actions violated Sections 11(2) and 20(1) of the NDLEA Act, 2004. Upon being informed of the charges, Daniel admitted to the offenses and pleaded guilty. The prosecution, through the NDLEA, presented evidence and urged the court for a conviction and sentence based on the case details and provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

However, Daniel's defense counsel argued for a more lenient sentence, citing his guilty plea and lack of prior criminal record. The court ultimately sentenced Daniel to five years for the first count and six years for the second count, with the option of fines instead of imprisonment.