Lagos Court Sentences Biker to 21 Months for Drug Trafficking
Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has handed down a 21-month prison sentence to a 25-year-old biker, Usman Musa, for trafficking in prohibited substances. The conviction followed Musa's guilty plea to three charges brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Arrest and Charges
Musa was apprehended while peddling illegal drugs in the Ajegunle-Apapa area of Lagos. According to prosecutor Juliana Negedu, the arrest occurred on February 20, 2026, after Musa was found in unlawful possession of 618 grammes of cannabis sativa, 55 grammes of Rohypnol (a psychotropic substance), and 46 grammes of Tramadol (225mg), another controlled narcotic.
Negedu informed the court that Musa used an unregistered high-grade motorcycle with Chassis number Sj25pb104233 to facilitate his illicit activities. She emphasized that these actions violated Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Following Musa's guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to impose a sentence based on his admission, confessional statement, and the exhibits presented. She also requested the final forfeiture of the motorcycle to the Federal Government, citing its use as an instrumentality of the crime.
In defense, Musa's lawyer, Kate Igbo, pleaded for leniency, asking the court to temper justice with mercy. Igbo advocated for a non-custodial sentence or a fine as an alternative to imprisonment.
In his judgment, Justice Ogazi considered numerous legal authorities and Musa's confessional statement, in which the convict admitted to previous arrests by the police for similar offenses. The judge sentenced Musa to seven months imprisonment on each of the three counts, with the terms to run concurrently, totaling 21 months.
Additionally, Justice Ogazi ordered the final forfeiture of the unregistered high-grade motorcycle to the Federal Government, reinforcing the consequences of using vehicles in drug trafficking operations.
