Nollywood Filmmaker Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced 40-year-old America-trained Nollywood filmmaker, Mbadiwe Emeka, to five years in prison for trafficking 17.30 kilograms of Canada Loud, a form of Cannabis Sativa, similar to drugs like cocaine, LSD, and heroin.

The sentence was delivered by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, after Emeka pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful importation of the narcotic. The charges were brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

During the trial, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim informed the court that Emeka was arrested on December 24, 2024, after customs officers examined incoming cargo under Airway Bill No: 00637337285, which had been shipped from Houston, USA.

The cargo was processed at the National Handling Company Import Shed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Ibrahim also revealed that Emeka had enlisted the help of one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to facilitate the importation of the illegal drug.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed by Emeka violated Sections 21(1)(e) and were punishable under Sections 11(a), 20(1)(a), and 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Despite this, Emeka pleaded guilty to the two counts.

Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor presented the facts of the case and submitted all relevant exhibits.

The convict’s lawyer, Dennis Warri, requested the court to show leniency in sentencing, urging the judge to take into account Emeka’s prompt guilty plea as a sign of remorse and to avoid wasting the court’s time. Warri suggested a non-custodial sentence or the option of a fine instead of jail time.

After considering the submissions from both parties, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Emeka to five years in prison. However, the judge also allowed for an alternative to the jail term, ordering Emeka to pay a fine of N3 million.

Additionally, the court ruled that most of the exhibits, along with Emeka’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.