On Wednesday, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos delivered a significant ruling, convicting 41-year-old Canadian citizen, Adrienne Munju, to eleven years in prison or a fine of N50 million. The conviction stems from her alleged importation of 35.20 kilograms of a potent strain of cannabis known as “Canadian Loud” into Nigeria.

The court proceedings revealed that Munju pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, as outlined by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The charges specified that on October 3, 2024, during the processing of passengers arriving on KLM Flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Munju allegedly imported the cannabis without legal authorization.

The prosecution, represented by NDLEA lawyer Abu Ibrahim, filed the charges citing violations of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. During the hearing, the judge instructed that the charges be read aloud, to which Munju entered a guilty plea. This prompted the prosecutor to provide evidence, including witness testimonies and relevant exhibits. Based on these, the prosecution urged the court to deliver a conviction in light of the defendant’s admission and the evidence presented.

In a plea for leniency, Munju’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, appealed to the court, emphasizing her remorse and the fact that she had not wasted the court’s time with a prolonged defense. Ndakara argued that Munju was misled into making a poor decision under the promise of a financial reward for transporting the drugs. He requested that the court consider a fine instead of a prison sentence, highlighting that Munju had no connections in Nigeria and had been left to navigate this legal predicament alone.

After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years on the first count and five years on the second count, with an option to pay a fine of N50 million for each count. The sentences will run concurrently.

For context, Adrienne Munju was apprehended at Lagos airport during the clearance of passengers from a KLM flight arriving from Canada. NDLEA operatives discovered 74 parcels containing the illicit cannabis in her luggage. During interrogation, Munju disclosed that she was lured into trafficking the drugs through an online scheme, where she was offered 10,000 Canadian dollars for successful delivery—a decision she regretted when faced with the consequences.