A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji, on Monday sentenced Omoruyi Terry, a Nigerian cross-border drug trafficker, to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for unlawfully exporting 800 grams of Tramadol.
The sentence followed Omoruyi’s guilty plea to a one-count charge brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to NDLEA prosecutor Mrs. Bibiana Eze, Omoruyi was arrested on March 19, 2025, at the Terminal II Screening Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He was apprehended during the outward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight QR1406 from Lagos to Venice, Italy, via Doha.
The convict was found in possession of 800 grams of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance listed among Nigeria’s controlled drugs.
During his arraignment two weeks earlier, Omoruyi admitted to exporting the banned drug without lawful authority and was convicted after the court reviewed the facts.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Faji considered the plea for leniency by Omoruyi’s counsel, Oreofe Ogunleye, who emphasized that the convict was a first-time offender and had promptly admitted guilt, thereby not wasting the court’s time.
However, the judge dismissed Omoruyi’s claim that he was unaware the substance was prohibited. Justice Faji noted the convict’s frequent international travel undermined this defense, stating:
“The court cannot accept the story that the convict did not know the substance was banned. He has travelled between Nigeria and Italy at least twice a month in the past three years. A man with that level of travel experience should be aware of international drug regulations.”
Consequently, the court sentenced Omoruyi to two years’ imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest, March 19, 2025.
The charge read:
“That you, Omoruyi Terry, Male, Adult, with Nigerian International Passport Number 850277389, on or about the 19th day of March 2025, during the outward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways Flight No. QR 1406 from Lagos to Venice via Doha, at the Terminal II Screening Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority exported 800 grams of Tramadol (225 mg), a psychotropic substance, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
