Italy-Based Nigerian Man Gets 15 Years for Trafficking 1.30kg of Tramadol
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has handed down a significant prison sentence to a serial drug trafficker, Solomon Adegbite, for his involvement in the illicit trade of prohibited narcotics. The 41-year-old Nigerian resident in Italy received a 15-year imprisonment term without the option of a fine after being convicted for trafficking 1.30 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225 mg.
Arrest and Charges
According to court documents, Adegbite was apprehended on July 22, 2025, during the outward clearance of passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. He was attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight bound for Italy via Casablanca, Morocco, when National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials discovered the concealed narcotics.
The NDLEA alleged that Adegbite knowingly possessed the 1.30kg of Tramadol 225mg, which he had hidden inside a thick winter jacket in an attempt to evade airport security screening procedures. This marked the third time Adegbite had been arrested for drug-related offences, with previous incidents including an arrest in 2024.
Court Proceedings and Conviction
The court, presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki, delivered the sentence on Wednesday after convicting Adegbite on a 15-count charge filed by the NDLEA. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges during the proceedings.
NDLEA prosecutor Juliana Imaobong Iroabuchi had initially arraigned Adegbite before the court in February 2026, following his arrest over the illicit drug consignment. He was subsequently remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the review of facts.
Although the matter experienced delays on two occasions when the prosecution informed the court that exhibits intended for presentation were not ready, the case eventually proceeded on March 16, 2026. During the resumed hearing, NDLEA operative Okey Emmanuel reviewed the facts of the case and tendered relevant exhibits before the court.
Sentencing and Forfeiture Orders
Following the review, prosecutor Iroabuchi urged the court to convict the defendant based on his guilty plea and the evidence presented. Justice Kakaki thereafter convicted Adegbite, with no objection raised by his counsel, Augustine Nwagu, and adjourned the matter to March 18, 2026, for sentencing.
At the sentencing hearing, defence counsel Augustine Nwagu pleaded for leniency on behalf of the convict, describing him as a young man with several dependants who rely on him for support. He told the court that Adegbite was remorseful and had learned from his actions, urging the judge to temper justice with mercy and grant him an option of fine.
However, the NDLEA prosecutor strongly opposed this plea. Iroabuchi argued that granting an option of fine would send the wrong message to society, especially given the devastating impact of hard drugs on victims and communities. She further informed the court that Adegbite was an unrepentant repeat offender, noting that this was allegedly the third time he had been arrested for drug-related offences.
The prosecutor also urged the court to consider the commercial quantity of the seized narcotic. After listening to both parties, Justice Kakaki sentenced Adegbite to prison terms across 13 of the 15 counts, with the sentences to run as pronounced by the court.
Specifically, the judge imposed the following sentences:
- 15 years' imprisonment on count 1
- 15 years' imprisonment on count 2
- 15 years' imprisonment on count 3
- 15 years' imprisonment on count 4
- 15 years' imprisonment on count 5
- 15 years' imprisonment on count 6
- 10 years' imprisonment on count 7
- 4 years' imprisonment on count 8
- 4 years' imprisonment on count 9
- 4 years' imprisonment on count 10
- 4 years' imprisonment on count 11
- 4 years' imprisonment on count 12
- 10 years' imprisonment on count 15
Additional Penalties and Agency Allegations
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of several items to the Federal Government of Nigeria. These included Adegbite's Italian residence permit, his Nigerian international passport, a Samsung Galaxy A22 mobile phone, his bank accounts linked to Aderevico Pharmacy, and other assets associated with the pharmacy business.
The anti-narcotics agency further alleged that the defendant attempted to manipulate his travel documents during his third arrest by exchanging his valid Italian residence permit with an expired one. The offence is punishable under Sections 11(d) and 20(a)(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
This case represents another significant victory for Nigeria's drug enforcement agencies in their ongoing battle against international drug trafficking networks. The substantial sentence and forfeiture orders send a strong message about the serious consequences facing those involved in the illicit drug trade.
