Truck driver bags five years in jail for transporting cannabis in Lagos

A 32-year-old truck driver, Oriyomi Ayesoro, has been convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for unlawful transportation of 2,647 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court sentenced the truck driver after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The judge equally ordered the interim forfeiture of the white Iveco truck with registration number FKJ 271 IYL and Chassis Number SBCAIA000B015241, used to convey the illicit drugs, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In addressing the court, the counsel for the NDLEA, Paul Ekuri, stated that the convict was arrested on July 9, 2026, at Abraham Adesanya Street, Lekki, Lagos, while transporting the banned substance from Alasia Tipper Garage to Berger, Lagos State.

According to the charge designated FHC/LAG/CR/642/2026, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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Ayesoro pleaded guilty to the offence when the charge was read to him.

Therefore, consequent upon his guilty plea, the counsel for the NDLEA prayed to the judge to convict and sentence him accordingly and to order the forfeiture of the truck to the Federal Government.

Even the convict’s lawyer, Dennis Warri, did not oppose the request for conviction but opposed the final forfeiture of the truck, citing several legal authorities and provisions of the NDLEA Act. 

Handing down his judgment, Justice Aluko sentenced Ayesoro to five years’ imprisonment but gave him an option of N1 million fine instead of the jail term.

The judge further held, while speaking on the fate of the truck, that the onus is on the vehicle owner to prove that the crime was committed without his knowledge or consent.

According to Justice Aluko, “The owner of the vehicle, of the truck, is given a period of seven days from today to place facts or evidence before the Court to show cause why the final forfeiture order should not be made over the truck.”