According to a report by Punch on Friday, August 22, 2025, A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted a Lagos-based businessman, Lawrence Ezenwa, to five years in prison for attempting to export illegal substances through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
While attempting to board an aircraft to Dubai, Ezenwa was apprehended by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) agents. He was found in possession of 1.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in food and electronics in his suitcase, according to court documents. The NDLEA prosecutors used the testimony of airport officers who had detected the suspect’s suitcase during standard screening as well as forensic evidence during the court hearings. As part of a plea bargain arrangement with the prosecution, the defendant changed his plea from not guilty at first. The case’s judge, Justice Abdulazeez Anka, emphasised the need for deterrent punishment while pointing out the growing tendency of drug trafficking among business tourists. He condemned Ezenwa to five years imprisonment, with the option of a fine of N2 million.
In addition to applauding the court’s ruling, the NDLEA reaffirmed its resolve to take tough measures against drug trafficking organisations that use Nigeria’s international entry points. The agency stressed in a statement that “ignorance will not be an excuse in the eyes of the law” and cautioned Nigerians from giving in to the temptation of serving as couriers for foreign drug cartels.
The case joins an increasing number of recent convictions connected to drug smuggling attempts into Asia and the Middle East. More arrests are anticipated as investigations deepen, according to authorities, who say the airport has faced heightened surveillance since early 2024. The implications of drug-related offences and the NDLEA’s ongoing assault on traffickers adopting creative concealment tactics are brought home by Ezenwa’s sentence…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
