The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted popular socialite, Fayisara Ajoke Opaleye, popularly known as Iya Ruka, and her driver, Abideen Adio, for trafficking and transporting 1,540 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.
Justice Musa Kakaki delivered the judgment on Friday after both defendants changed their pleas to guilty on an amended one-count charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The duo was initially arraigned in May on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, trafficking, and unlawful possession of narcotics. They had earlier pleaded not guilty and were granted bail under strict conditions. However, during the resumed hearing, the prosecution informed the court that the charges had been amended — with Iya Ruka facing a trafficking count and Adio facing a transportation count — to which they both pleaded guilty.
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Prosecution counsel, Buhari Abdullahi, told the court that the offences contravened Sections 11(c) and 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. He also presented evidence linking the defendants to the crime and urged the court to convict them. Abdullahi further sought an order for the forfeiture of the Isuzu truck (Reg. No. LSD 127 YK, Chassis No. JAANPR71HE7101834) used to convey the drugs.
In a plea for leniency, defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, citing the defendants’ remorse, Iya Ruka’s health challenges, and the fact that Adio had remained in custody since his arrest. He pleaded for a non-custodial sentence or a fine in lieu of imprisonment.
After reviewing the submissions, Justice Kakaki noted that both defendants were first-time offenders. The court consequently convicted them and imposed monetary penalties — ordering Iya Ruka to pay a fine of ₦20 million, while her driver, Adio, was fined ₦10 million — for their respective roles in the offence.
