A Nigerian man, Anoke Kingsley Roomy, who was based in Turkey, has been sentenced to one year in prison for attempting to export 600 grams of tramadol, a controlled substance. The sentence was handed down by a Federal High Court in Lagos on December 19, 2024, after Roomy pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.

Roomy was arrested on November 15, 2024, during a routine screening of passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. He was preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Turkey, with a stopover in Addis Ababa, when airport officials discovered the tramadol in his luggage. The drugs were found hidden in his bag as he attempted to travel with them.

According to the prosecutor from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Roomy’s actions violated Nigeria’s drug trafficking laws. The prosecutor also pointed out that such offenses are punishable under the NDLEA Act. Roomy’s defense lawyer, Augustine Nwagu, argued for leniency, claiming that his client was a first-time offender who expressed remorse. Nwagu explained that the tramadol was meant for personal use and not for trafficking.

Despite the defense’s arguments, Justice Akintayo Aluko sentenced Roomy to 12 months in prison. The judge also ruled that Roomy’s Nigerian passport be forfeited to the Nigerian Immigration Service and that the tramadol seized from him be destroyed, unless an appeal is filed within the required period.

In addition to the prison sentence, Roomy was also given the option to pay a fine of N300,000 as an alternative to serving his sentence. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of Nigeria’s authorities to curb drug trafficking and enforce strict laws regarding controlled substances.