Court jails 2 ex-police officers for cannabis transport

From Lateef Dada, Taraba

Justice Mashkur Salisu of a Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has sentenced two dismissed police officers, Ezugo Destiny and Tunji Alade, to ten years imprisonment each for transporting 509.41kg of cannabis sativa.

The convicts, Destiny (41) and Alade (71), were arraigned on 4 November 2025 for transporting 509.41kg of cannabis sativa, a narcotic substance in two vehicles – white and black Toyota Hilux with registration number EPE-30HF – without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In the charge FHC/JAL/CR/42/2025, the prosecutor, Miss Terro L. R., told the court that Destiny came from Seluko Road Benin City, while Alade came from Bolajoko Street, Akure, Ondo State, and committed the crime on or about 30 September 2025 at Wukari-Zaki-Biam Road, Wukari LGA, Taraba State.

The convicts admitted guilty and their counsel, Mr. M. Oleka, urged the court to be merciful with them.

But the court recalled that the convicts had stated themselves that they used crested vest of the Nigeria Police Force and siren to carry out the offence with ease by having easy ride free from the eyes of law enforcement agencies on the road before they were eventually nabbed.

The court noted that the act was not even the first of its kind by the convicts, especially the second convict who by virtue of his old age ought to be a mentor for good and not otherwise.

Justice Mashkur thereby sentenced the convicts to ten years imprisonment each without option of fine and ordered the destruction of the bulk of recovered substances by the authorities of NDLEA Taraba State Command in the presence of an officer of the court.

The court also ordered interim forfeiture of the white unregistered Toyota Hilux vehicle, the instrument of conveyance of the said narcotic substance, pending the hearing of the Motion FHC/JAL/M/157/2025 filed by an interested party/applicant.