Rita Odafe
Nigerian Man Sentenced for Tramadol Export Attempt
On Thursday, December 19, a Nigerian man residing in Turkey, Anoke Kingsley Roomy, received a one-year prison sentence from a Federal High Court in Lagos for trying to illegally export 600 grams of tramadol, which is classified as a controlled substance.
Justice Akintayo Aluko found Roomy guilty and issued a 12-month sentence after he admitted to the charges brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During the proceedings, prosecutor Abu Ibrahim revealed that Roomy was apprehended on November 15, 2024, while being screened as a passenger at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, prior to his flight to Turkey via Addis Ababa.
Roomy was traveling on a Nigerian passport when the illicit tramadol was discovered.
The charges against him were said to violate Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which dictates penalties for such actions.
Upon hearing the charges, Roomy pleaded guilty.
The prosecutor requested a conviction in alignment with the NDLEA Act based on Roomy’s admission of guilt.
Roomy’s attorney, Augustine Nwagu, sought a lighter sentence, arguing that this was his client’s first offense and that he had shown remorse.
Nwagu claimed that the tramadol, worth N40,000, was intended for personal use rather than sale and asked for an alternative to imprisonment, considering Roomy’s detention time.
After confirming that Roomy had no prior convictions, Justice Aluko sentenced him to 12 months in prison.
The judge also mandated the forfeiture of Roomy’s passport to the Nigerian Immigration Service and instructed the destruction of the seized drugs if no appeal was filed within a specified period. Additionally, Roomy was given the option to pay a fine of N300,000 instead of serving jail time.
