Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, convicted and sentenced Solomon Adegbite, a serial drug trafficker, to 15 years imprisonment without an option of a fine for trafficking 1.30 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, a prohibited narcotic substance. As reported by ALO360, the court handed down the verdict on March 18, 2026, after the defendant pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
The Conviction
Adegbite appeared before the court on a 15 count charge of drug trafficking brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Furthermore, he faced two additional counts related to the same offence. Justice Kakaki convicted him on all counts after he entered a guilty plea. Subsequently, the court remanded him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending sentencing.
The Arrest
Adegbite, a Nigerian based in Italy, encountered law enforcement officials on July 22, 2025. NDLEA operatives arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers on a Royal Air Maroc Flight to Italy through Casablanca, Morocco. The arrest occurred at Terminal 2, Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. Officers discovered the 1.30 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg concealed in his luggage during routine screening.Legal ProceedingsThe NDLEA arraigned Adegbite before the court in February 2026. However, the review of facts faced delays on two occasions. Juliana Iroabuchi, the prosecutor, requested additional time because the exhibits were not available for tendering. On March 16, 2026, Iroabuchi presented all relevant exhibits through Okay Emmanuel, an NDLEA operative. Augustine Nwagu, the defence counsel, did not object to the conviction based on the guilty plea and evidence presented.
Prosecution Arguments
Iroabuchi urged the court to convict Adegbite based on his guilty plea and the evidence tendered. She strongly opposed any request for an option of a fine. She stated: “The court should reject this plea, arguing that it would send the wrong message to society.” Additionally, she emphasized the impact of drug trafficking on victims. She stated: “The court should consider the victims affected by hard drugs.” Furthermore, she described Adegbite as an unrepentant drug trafficker who had faced arrest three times previously for drug offences. She also noted the commercial value of the significant quantity of drugs involved.
Sentencing and Forfeiture
Justice Kakaki sentenced Adegbite to 15 years imprisonment on the 15 count charge. Additionally, the court imposed four years imprisonment on the two remaining counts. The judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The court also ordered the forfeiture of Adegbite’s Italian residence permit, his pharmacy, his bank accounts, his Samsung Galaxy A22 mobile phone, and his Nigerian passport. The judge delivered the sentence after considering the gravity of the offence and the defendant’s prior criminal history involving drug trafficking.
