A 34-year-old woman, Tope Ayanwale, on Tuesday slumped in court moments after being sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
Ayanwale, who was given an option of a N10m fine, was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice B. Quadiri on Charge No. FHC/B/21c/2026.
It was gathered that shortly after the judgment was delivered, the convict suddenly collapsed in the courtroom, causing a stir among those present.
She was, however, quickly attended to and stabilised before being taken into custody to commence her sentence.
The court had found her guilty of unlawful possession of 1.272 kilograms of cannabis sativa, 2.1 grams of methamphetamine, and 176 grams of tramadol.
In a related development, the court also convicted two other drug offenders, Etinosa Bazuaye, 43, and Godfrey Osabuohien, 34, sentencing them to 15 years’ imprisonment each on March 25.
Bazuaye, who faced charges of possessing 13 grams of cocaine under Charge No. FHC/B/143c/2025, was given an option of a N6m fine, while Osabuohien, prosecuted for unlawful possession of 15 kilograms of cannabis under Charge No. FHC/B/86c/2025, was handed an option of a N3m fine.
The convictions were secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Federal High Court in Benin City.
Delivering his remarks, Justice Quadiri warned of the far-reaching consequences of drug trafficking, linking the menace to crimes such as armed robbery and banditry.
He stressed the need for stringent punishment to deter offenders and protect the public.
Reacting to the judgment, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, praised the judiciary for what he described as a firm stance against drug-related offences.
He noted that the convictions were in line with the agency’s intensified campaign under its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), to dismantle drug syndicates and ensure offenders are brought to justice.
Ofoyeju added that the command would continue its crackdown on illicit drug activities and urged residents to support its efforts by providing useful information.
He reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to rid the state and the country of illegal drugs, noting that several convictions had been secured and cannabis farms destroyed in recent operations.