A 38-year-old South African woman, Will Jessica Ann, has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading guilty to charges of conspiring to import and unlawfully importing 5.75kg of heroin. The sentence was handed down by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following Ann's arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 6, 2026.
Arrest and Discovery of Heroin
Ann was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after arriving in Abuja on Qatar Airways flight QR1433 from Doha, travelling with her three-year-old son. During the inward clearance of passengers, NDLEA officers discovered 14 large blocks of heroin concealed in two checked-in suitcases. According to the NDLEA statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Ann initially denied travelling with any checked luggage. However, officers established that the baggage tags on the two suitcases matched the claim tags attached to her passport.
Following this, Ann admitted the bags belonged to her, stating that she had forgotten she had checked them in. The NDLEA also alleged that Ann was linked to a transnational drug trafficking organisation operating along the Cambodia-South Africa route, with her partner, Jan Coenraad De Jager, who was named in the conspiracy charge and described in court as being at large.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Ann later pleaded guilty to the two charges of conspiring to import heroin and unlawfully importing the drug. During her sentencing hearing, she appealed to the court for leniency, stating, “I did not know there was drug in the bags…I have learnt my lessons,” as reported by THISDAY. Her lawyer also urged the court to consider that she was a first-time offender and a mother with no one in Nigeria to care for her young child.
Despite the plea, Justice Egwuatu convicted Ann and sentenced her to 15 years on the conspiracy count and 25 years for the unlawful importation of heroin. The two sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Ann will serve a maximum of 25 years in prison, rather than 40 years. The judge also ordered that the seized heroin be destroyed if Ann does not appeal within the period allowed by law.
Value of Seized Heroin and Child Welfare Concerns
The prosecution informed the court that one kilogramme of heroin was worth about ₦18 million, placing the estimated street value of the seized 5.75kg at more than ₦100 million. The case also raised concerns about Ann’s son, who remained in NDLEA custody during the proceedings. The agency stated its intention to arrange the child's handover to the South African High Commission, though no separate statement from the commission was cited in the reviewed reports. The sentencing concludes the legal process for Ann, with the focus now on the child's welfare and the destruction of the confiscated drugs.
