A Nollywood filmmaker, Mbadiwe Emeka, has been sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking.
The 40-year-old, who trained in the United States, was found guilty of importing 17.3 kilograms of Canada Loud, a type of Cannabis Sativa.
Emeka was arrested on December 24, 2024, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
He was caught during the inspection of a cargo shipment from Houston, USA. Investigations revealed that he arranged for someone named Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to import the illegal substance.
The NDLEA charged him with unlawful drug importation, an offense punishable under Nigerian law.
When Emeka was taken to court, he pleaded guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, presented evidence against him, including seized items related to the case.
His lawyer, Dennis Warri, asked the judge to show mercy, arguing that Emeka’s guilty plea showed remorse. He also requested a lighter punishment or an option to pay a fine instead of serving jail time.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Emeka to five years in prison. However, the court gave him the option to pay a ₦3 million fine instead of serving the full sentence.
Additionally, the judge ordered that the seized drugs and Emeka’s iPhone 12 Pro Max be forfeited to the Nigerian government.
