A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced the Chief Executive Officer and Director of G Care Pharm Limited, Megwalu Chukwudi Bob-Manuel, to four years in prison for unlawfully procuring and attempting to export 8.30 kilogrammes of Raphnol, a psychotropic substance under international control.
Justice Akintayo Aluko handed down the sentence after Bob-Manuel pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the unlawful procurement and exportation of the controlled substance.
The court ordered that the four-year sentences imposed on the two counts should run concurrently, with the term taking effect from the date of his arrest.
According to the prosecution, led by Arit N. Okon, the offence was committed on July 24, 2026, at the NAHCO Export Shed, a Customs facility within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The court heard that during the inspection of a consignment destined for Nairobi, Kenya, Bob-Manuel allegedly engaged Justina of Tina Travels Service Limited and Anosie Ebube of Fair Express to facilitate the export of 8.30kg of Raphnol.
He was also accused of attempting to personally export the controlled substance to Nairobi without lawful authority.
The prosecution said the offences violated Sections 21(2)(c) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the relevant exhibits through a witness before asking the court to convict and sentence him.
In mitigation, counsel to the convict, Chief Benson Ndakara, assisted by Kate Igbo, appealed to the court for leniency.
The defence described Bob-Manuel as a first-time offender who had no previous conviction and had saved the court’s time by pleading guilty to the charges.
Counsel also urged the court to consider a non-custodial option.
After reviewing the facts of the case, the quantity of the controlled substance and the mitigation presented by the defence, Justice Aluko sentenced Bob-Manuel to four years on each count, with the terms running concurrently.
However, the court granted him the option of paying a ₦1 million fine in lieu of the prison sentence.
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