Lagos Restaurateur sentenced to 7 years in prison for drug trafficking

A Lagos-based businessman and owner of a popular food outlet in Lekki, Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, has been sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Ikoyi for trafficking in cannabis, popularly known as “loud”—a high-grade strain of marijuana.

Justice A. Aluko handed down the verdict on Monday, April 28, 2025, after Ebenezer pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of unlawful importation and possession of the illicit drug.

The charges were brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Ebenezer, proprietor of Damillionz Takeout, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on March 10, 2025, at the FedEx Import Warehouse, located within the NAHCO Import Shed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to NDLEA prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, the businessman was apprehended while attempting to take delivery of a consignment containing 31.30 kilograms of cannabis, smuggled into Nigeria from the United States.

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Further investigations led to another arrest on March 24, 2025, when NDLEA operatives discovered an additional 94 grams of the same substance in his residence at Flat 7, D11, Lekki Gardens, Horizon 11, Meadow Hall, Ikate-Elegushi, Lagos.

The prosecution stated that Ebenezer’s actions violated sections 20(1)(a) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and were punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.

Upon arraignment, Ebenezer admitted guilt, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and urge the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

In his plea for leniency, the defense counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, assisted by Kate Igbo, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, describing Ebenezer as a “victim of circumstance.” Ndakara revealed that his client is a single father caring for his eight-year-old son and urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.

Justice Aluko, while delivering the judgment, noted that the convict had no prior criminal record. The court subsequently sentenced Ebenezer to six years imprisonment on the first count and 12 months on the second count, to run concurrently.

However, the judge provided an option of fines: N2 million for the first count and N300,000 for the second.

The ruling serves as yet another stern warning to individuals involved in drug trafficking, as authorities continue to crack down on narcotics offenses across Nigeria.