Filmmaker Jailed For Trafficking Prohibited Drug

By Felix Kuyinu

A Nollywood film producer, Mbadiwe Emeka, has been jailed for smuggling illicit drug.

The convict, during his arraignment by the Economic Finacial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday, was sentenced to five years in prison.

EFCC counsel, Abu Ibrahim, said that the 40-year-old peddled 17.30 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.

Ibrahim who stated that the jailer pleaded guilty to the two counts of unlawful importation of the illicit drug, was arrested on December 24, 2024, during an examination of incoming cargo with Airway Bill No: 00637337285, at the Muritala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 21(1)(e) and are punishable under Sections 11(a), 20 (1) (a) and 20 (2) (a)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Ibrahim also reviewed the facts of the case and tendered all exhibits in the charge and prayed that the lawbreaker be sentenced accordingly.

However, the defence counsel, Dennis Warri, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Lewis-Allagoa, fter sentenced the transgressor to five years in prison. Be however ordered him to pay N3m in lieu of the jail term.

Furthermore, Justice Allagoa ordered that the bulk of the exhibit and the iPhone 12 pro-Max be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.