A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered that Uche Ezeh, a middle-aged man, be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre after he pleaded guilty to exporting 4.40 kilograms of cocaine and 11.50 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

He is to remain in custody until December 12, 2025, when the court will review the case and deliver judgment.

Ezeh was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a four-count charge, filed as FHC/L/30/2025, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

Prior to the arraignment, the prosecution moved to substitute Ezeh for another defendant, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, who had initially faced trial on the same allegations.

Prosecution counsel Abu Ibrahim explained that Ekeocha’s discharge became necessary after investigators apprehended the principal drug trafficker, identified as Ezeh. Justice Aneke then struck Ekeocha’s name from the charges. Following this, the prosecution sought permission to read the amended charges to Ezeh, a request that defense counsel P. U. Okenyi did not oppose.

Ezeh pleaded guilty to all four counts.

The NDLEA stated that on November 5, 2024, Ezeh engaged Ekeocha to export 4.40 kilograms of cocaine hidden in food items through the NAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, destined for the United Kingdom via Cologne, Germany. He was also accused of personally exporting the same quantity of cocaine on the same date through the same facility.

Additionally, on May 12, 2025, Ezeh allegedly recruited Olowolehin Sunday Olabode to export 11.50 kilograms of cannabis sativa concealed in packs of plantain chips via the NAHCO Export Shed. Prosecutors also said he exported the same quantity of cannabis that day without legal authorisation.

According to the NDLEA, these acts contravene Sections 21(2)(d) and 20(1)(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and are punishable under Sections 11(b) and 20(2)(a) of the Act.