A 34-year-old woman, Tope Ayanwale, collapsed inside a Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, moments after being handed a three-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
The conviction followed a successful prosecution by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Ayanwale was found guilty of the unlawful possession of a cocktail of illicit substances, including 1.272 kilograms of cannabis sativa, 2.1 grams of methamphetamine, and 176 grams of tramadol.
The Court’s Ruling
Presiding judge Justice B. O. Quadiri delivered the judgment under charge number FHC/B/21c/2026. While the judge sentenced Ayanwale to three calendar years in prison, the court provided an option of a 10 million Naira fine.
Upon hearing the pronouncement, Ayanwale reportedly slumped in the courtroom, causing a brief period of panic. She was immediately attended to by court officials and medical personnel on-site. Once stabilized, she was taken into custody to begin her sentence.
Broader Context of Judicial Crackdown
The sentencing of Ayanwale was part of a broader judicial sweep against narcotics in the region. Between March 24 and 25, the same court, alongside Justice Chuka Obiozor, sentenced two other traffickers:
- Etinosa Bazuaye (43): Sentenced to 15 years for possession of 13 grams of cocaine, with a 6 million Naira fine option.
- Godfrey Osabuohien (34): Sentenced to 15 years for possession of 15 kilograms of cannabis, with a 3 million Naira fine option.
Justice Quadiri emphasized that such stiff penalties are necessary to deter offenders and mitigate the link between drug trafficking and violent crimes like armed robbery and banditry.
NDLEA Reaction
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, commended the judiciary for the “firm and decisive” judgment. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks under the leadership of Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), warning that Edo State remains “hostile territory” for traffickers.
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