Halima Abdulahi sentenced to one year in prison or ₦500,000 fine for unlawful tramadol possession after pleading guilty at the Federal High Court in Lagos

Halima Abdulahi, a 50-year-old woman, has been sentenced to one year imprisonment or an option of a ₦500,000 fine by the Federal High Court in Lagos for unlawful possession of tramadol.

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Justice Ibrahim Kala handed down the judgment on Thursday after Abdulahi pleaded guilty to the one-count charge filed against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to the NDLEA, Abdulahi was arrested on October 2, 2025, at the ECOWAS border post in Seme, Lagos State, with 50 packets of tramadol weighing 4.6 kilograms and valued at ₦400,000.

Prosecutor Mr Chibuzor Ohanyere told the court that the agency’s officers intercepted the drugs during a routine border check and subsequently charged Abdulahi under the NDLEA Act.

After the charge was read, Halima Abdulahi pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecutor to review the case facts and tender the seized substances and related documents as evidence.

With no objection from the defence, Justice Kala convicted her as charged.

During allocutus, defence counsel Mrs Vivian Ekwegh appealed for leniency, describing Abdulahi as a first-time offender who acted out of ignorance, believing tramadol to be similar to paracetamol. She added that her client had shown remorse and cooperated fully with investigators.

In a measured judgment, Justice Kala sentenced Halima Abdulahi to one year imprisonment with an option to pay a ₦500,000 fine. The court also directed that she complete 30 days of community service as part of her punishment.

The NDLEA welcomed the conviction, describing it as a reminder of the agency’s determination to curb the abuse and trafficking of controlled substances across Nigeria’s borders.

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Abdulahi’s case adds to a growing list of convictions secured under the NDLEA’s ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking and misuse, particularly involving potent opioids such as tramadol.