A 29-year-old woman, Owoeye Tobi, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour by the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, for drug trafficking and illegal possession of narcotics.

Justice B.O. Quadri, who delivered the ruling, also gave the convict an option of N25 million fine, after finding her guilty of five counts related to possession of hard drugs.

Tobi, a native of Osun State, was arrested in February 2025 by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State. She was found with 168.1 grams of various illegal drugs including cannabis sativa, heroin, cocaine, tramadol, and methamphetamine.

The breakdown of the substances found with her includes:

161 grams of Cannabis Sativa

0.2 grams of Heroin

0.7 grams of Cocaine

2.4 grams of Tramadol capsules

3.8 grams of Methamphetamine

Justice Quadri sentenced her to two years’ imprisonment per count, with the option of a N5 million fine for each of the five charges.

Reacting to the judgement, NDLEA Commander in Edo State, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the sentence sends a strong warning to drug traffickers.

“Those who seek to inflict pain on society must not go unpunished. This judgment is a welcome development and will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

Ofoyeju emphasized the agency’s ongoing commitment to tackling drug crimes and urged the public to support their efforts by reporting suspicious drug-related activities.

This case stands as a stark reminder of the serious consequences awaiting those who engage in drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.