Justice Musa Kakaki of a Federal High Court, Lagos, today, convicted a Lagos based freight agent, Ajewole Ayo Joel, for conspiracy and trafficking in several Kilogrames of tramadol, a Narcotic analgesic.
Justice Kala convicted the popular clearing agent, following his change of plea to the criminal charges filed against by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicted cleaning agent, Ajewole Ayo Joel was previously arraigned before the court alongside an India national, Gupte Ravi Kumar, on the criminal charge sometimes in November 2025.
Specifically, both the convict and the indian man, were arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy, and unlawful importation of the total of 1,580.40 Kilogrames of Tapentadol Royal 225mm and 220mg brands of Tramadol.
The prosecutor Barrister Abu Ibrahim, who is the head of the Legal/prosecution department of NDLEA, MMIA Command, Lagos, also told the court that both the convicted freight agency and the indian national conspired among themselves and procured one Sumit Rekhit of Flexi World Logistics, Gurugra, India to unlawfully brought the prohibited narcotic analgesic into Nigeria.
The two men were also alleged to have procured one Ogunlana Akeem of Akman Global Investment & Logistics (now at large), to clear the prohibited drugs with waybill no: 071-58233792 and 071-59233792 to clear the drugs.
The prosecutor also informed the court that the illegal acts of the two men were uncovered at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) import Shed, at Customs Area/Point of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, during clearing of goods from Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria.
Barrister Abu had told the court that the illegal acts of the two men are contrary to sections 14{b); 21 (2)(d) and 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Authority, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The two men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, when they were initially arraigned.
However, at the resumed hearing of the charge today, the convicted freight agent, Ajewole Ayo Joel, through his lawyer, Babatunde Adeoye (SAN), signified his intention to change his earlier not guilty plea.
Based on the new development, the court ordered that the charges be reread to him for purpose of taking his plea afresh.
Hence the charges were read to him and he pleaded guilty to all the counts of the charge.
Upon his ‘new’ plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charges, as well tendered all the exhibits in the matter.
Following the review of the charge and tendering of exhibits, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him as charged. The judge thereafter convicted the freight agent of all the counts.
However, the convicted freight agent through his lawyer, Adeoye (SAN) pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
The judge after hearing submissions of the lawyer, convicted him of all the counts of the charge.
Justice Kakaki however adjourned to February 24, for sentencing of the freight agent and the commencement of the India national’s trial.
Parts of the charges against the convicted freight agent and his co-conspirator read: “That you Gupte Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel both Male, Adults on or about the 23rd September 2025, conspired with one Sumit Rekhit of Flexi World Logistics, Gurugra, India to import a consignment of 779.10 kilograms of Tapentadol Royal 225mg. rand of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin with waybill No. 071-58233792 and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary o and punishable under section 14{b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Authority, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Court 2
That you Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel both Male, Adults on or about the 23rd September 2025 conspired with one Sumit Rekhit of Flexi World Logistics, Gurugram, India to import a consignment of 811.30 kilograms of Tapentadol Super royal 200mg, a brand of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic similar to Cocaine, LSD; Heroin, with Airway Bill No, 071-58233792 and you thereby committed an act which is an offence Contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the! National Drug! Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel both Male, Adult on or about the 11th September 2025 during the examination of cargoes on Ethiopian Airline flight from india to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos procured one Ogunlana Akeem of Akman Global Investment & Logistics (now at large), to import a consignment of 811.30 kilograms of Tapentadol Super Royal 200mg, a brand of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin with Airway Bill No. 071-58233792 and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 21 (2) (d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 7004 and punishable under section 11(b) of the said Act.
“That you Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewale Ayo Joel both Male, Adult on or about the September 2025 during the examination of cargoes on Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) import Shed, a Customs Area/Po the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos without lawful authority imported a consignment of 811.30 kilograms of Tapentadol Super Royal 200mg, 2 brand tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin with Airway Bill No. 39233792 and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
