Canadian Woman Sentenced To 11 Years In Nigeria For Drug Smuggling
A Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos for importing 35.20 kilograms of cannabis, commonly known as ‘Canadian Loud,’ into Nigeria. Justice Deinde Dipeolu handed down the sentence on Wednesday, with an option for the convict to pay a ₦50 million fine instead.
Munju was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on October 3, 2024, after being found in possession of the illegal substance during clearance for passengers arriving from Canada on a KLM flight.
The charges against Munju, filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), violated Section 20(1)(a) and are punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act. She pleaded guilty to both charges on Monday, October 21, before Justice Dipeolu.
During the trial, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim reviewed the facts of the case, presented exhibits, and called a witness to testify, urging the court to convict Munju based on her guilty plea and the evidence provided.
In response, Munju’s defense counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, pleaded for leniency, stating that she had been deceived into smuggling the drugs and had admitted her guilt at the earliest opportunity. Ndakara requested the court to consider an option of a fine instead of a harsh prison sentence.
After considering the submissions, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years imprisonment on the first count and five years on the second count, with both sentences to run concurrently. The court also allowed the option of a ₦50 million fine on each count.
