Court Sentences Canada Returnee Abimbola Daniel to 11 Years for Cannabis Importation
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced Abimbola Daniel, a Canada returnee, to 11 years’ imprisonment for offences relating to the unlawful importation and possession of 2.5kg of cannabis.
Delivering judgment in Charge No. FHC/LAG/CR/609/2026, Hon. Justice Akintayo Aluko held that Daniel’s guilty plea and the evidence tendered by the prosecution established the offences beyond reasonable doubt under Sections 11(2) and 20(1) of the NDLEA Act, punishable by Section 20(2) of the same Act.
The prosecution, led by Arit Okon, proved that Daniel imported cannabis from Canada aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The consignment, concealed under waybill number 07161185795, was cleared through Afriway Cargo and Logistics, Ikeja, Lagos.
Daniel was arrested upon arrival to collect the cargo.
NDLEA exhibit keeper Abdullahi Musa reviewed the case facts and tendered exhibits, which were admitted in evidence.
Defence counsel Benson Ndakara, with Dennis Warri, urged the court to exercise leniency.
They relied on Daniel’s early guilty plea, absence of prior criminal record, and cited Sections 311(2)(c) and 412(2)(c) of the ACJA 2015 to request a non-custodial sentence.
After weighing both sides’ submissions, Justice Aluko sentenced Daniel to five years on the first count and six years on the second.
However, the judge offered him the option to pay fines instead: N500,000 for the first count and N600,000 for the second.
According to the charges, Daniel unlawfully imported 2.5kg of cannabis on July 14, 2026, during inward cargo clearance at the Customs Import Shed, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He also allegedly possessed the same quantity of cannabis the following day at Afriway Cargo and Logistics, Ajao Estate, Ikeja, Lagos.
