The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance) has provided a detailed account of its role in the arrest and subsequent conviction of a former junior staff member, Mr. Sunday Adakole, for stealing a controlled and dangerous substance from its facility at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos.
From Warehouse Theft to Drug Trafficking Case
According to a statement from the company's Assistant General Manager for Corporate Communications, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, the incident began when security officers promptly detected the theft of a 25-kilogramme drum of ephedrine hydrochloride. The company utilized its Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system to trace the missing item.
The substance, legally imported by Vitabiotics Nigeria Limited, was being stored in NAHCO's Dangerous Goods section pending customs clearance. Mr. Ahmed Gulmah, General Manager of External Relations at NAHCO, stated that Adakole stole the drum from the restricted warehouse area and attempted to sell it to a local buyer before being apprehended.
Arrest, Handover, and Escalation to Drug Agencies
On July 28, 2025, NAHCO security officers arrested Adakole after CCTV footage confirmed his responsibility for the theft. He was immediately handed over to the NAHCO Police Division under the Airport Police Command.
Gulmah explained that the company initially treated the matter as a straightforward case of warehouse theft. However, upon establishing that the stolen chemical was drug-related, NAHCO escalated the case to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation. A formal request for the transfer of the case was sent to the NDLEA on August 25, 2025, with updates provided to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on August 28.
Conviction and Company Rebuttal
The legal process concluded on December 2, 2025, when a Federal High Court in Lagos convicted Sunday Adakole for stealing and attempting to traffic the controlled substance. Ephedrine hydrochloride is categorized as dangerous and is similar to narcotics like cocaine and heroin.
In its statement, NAHCO strongly rebutted claims that the culprit was a manager within the organization. "Adakole was never a manager. He was a junior staff member who had not attained officer level at the time of the incident," Gulmah clarified.
The company criticized sensational reporting on the case but reaffirmed its commitment to assisting law enforcement agencies. It emphasized acting with full responsibility and transparency and noted it had received commendation from investigators for its prompt action in escalating the matter.
