Nollywood Filmmaker Sentenced To Five Years For Drug Trafficking
A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Mbadiwe Emeka, a 40-year-old America-trained Nollywood filmmaker, to five years imprisonment for trafficking 17.30 kilograms of Canada Loud (Cannabis Sativa), a narcotic substance classified alongside cocaine, LSD, and heroin.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa delivered the verdict on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, following Emeka’s guilty plea to two counts of unlawful drug importation, as filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During Emeka’s arraignment, NDLEA’s prosecution counsel, Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that the filmmaker was arrested on December 24, 2024, during the inspection of an incoming cargo with Airway Bill No: 00637337285, from Houston, United States of America, at the National Handling Company Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecution further stated that Emeka had procured one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to import the banned substance.
According to Ibrahim, the offences violated Sections 21(1)(e), 11(a), 20(1)(a), and 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
After Emeka pleaded guilty, the prosecution reviewed the case facts and submitted all relevant exhibits to the court.
In defense, Emeka’s lawyer, Dennis Warri, pleaded for leniency, citing his client’s remorse and timely guilty plea, which saved the court’s time. He requested the court to consider a non-custodial sentence or an option of a fine instead of imprisonment.
After considering the arguments, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Emeka to five years imprisonment but provided an option of a ₦3 million fine in place of jail time.
Additionally, the court ordered that the bulk of the seized drugs and Emeka’s iPhone 12 Pro Max be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
