Nollywood Filmmaker Mbadiwe Emeka Jailed for Five Years After Pleading Guilty to Trafficking 17.3kg of Cannabis from the US
LAGOS – A 40-year-old America-trained Nollywood filmmaker, Mbadiwe Emeka, has been sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking 17.3 kilograms of Canada Loud, a banned narcotic. Emeka’s conviction and sentencing took place at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, marking a significant victory for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in their ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
Emeka was arrested on December 24, 2024, at the National Handling Company Import Shed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He was attempting to import the contraband from Houston, USA, via Airway Bill No: 00637337285. The NDLEA’s diligent examination of incoming cargo revealed the illicit drugs concealed within the shipment. The banned substance, Canada Loud (Cannabis Sativa), is a narcotic similar to cocaine, LSD, and heroin.
During the court proceedings, NDLEA prosecution counsel, Abu Ibrahim, presented evidence detailing Emeka’s involvement in the drug trafficking operation. The prosecutor informed the court that Emeka had procured one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to facilitate the importation. Emeka faced two counts of unlawful importation, offences that contravene Sections 21(1)(e) and are punishable under Sections 11(a), 20 (1) (a) and 20 (2) (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Faced with the overwhelming evidence, Emeka pleaded guilty to both counts. Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and presented all exhibits to the court. Emeka’s lawyer, Dennis Warri, pleaded for leniency, urging the court to consider his client’s timely guilty plea as a sign of remorse and cooperation, thereby saving the court’s time. Warri requested a non-custodial sentence or a fine option in lieu of imprisonment.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, presiding over the case, acknowledged the submissions of both the prosecution and the defense. While recognizing the severity of the offense, the judge also considered Emeka’s guilty plea. Justice Lewis-Allagoa ultimately sentenced Emeka to five years imprisonment. However, the judge offered Emeka the option of paying a fine of N3 million in lieu of serving the jail term. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 17.3 kilograms of Canada Loud and an iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was deemed part of the evidence, to the Federal Government of Nigeria. This conviction serves as a strong deterrent and underscores the NDLEA’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking in Nigeria.
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