Nollywood Filmmaker Jailed for 5 Years Over Drug Trafficking Charges

A prominent Nollywood filmmaker has been sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking. Get the full story on the case and its impact on the entertainment industry.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has handed a five-year prison sentence to prominent Nollywood filmmaker Emeka Mbadiwe for drug trafficking.

The conviction comes after he pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing 17.30 kilograms of “Canada Loud,” a highly potent strain of Cannabis Sativa.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa rendered the judgment following Mbadiwe’s admission to the two-count charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Ndlea prosecutor Abu Ibrahim stated that Mbadiwe was arrested on December 24, 2024, during a standard inspection of incoming cargo at the National Handling Company (NAHCO) Import Shed located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.

The filmmaker’s arrest was connected to a shipment with Airway Bill No: 00637337285, originating from Houston, United States.

Ibrahim further asserted that the offender had recruited Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to assist in smuggling the prohibited substance.

He claimed that Emeka’s actions breached Sections 21(1)(e) and are subject to penalties under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

After Mbadiwe’s conviction, the court permitted the prosecutor to present the facts of the case and submit all exhibits related to the charges. This included a large quantity of seized drugs, confessional statements from the convict, and an iPhone Pro Max 12.

Defense lawyer Dennis Warri urged the court to impose a lighter sentence, emphasizing that his client’s prompt guilty plea demonstrated remorse and helped conserve the court’s time.

Warri additionally requested that the court consider imposing a non-custodial sentence or a fine rather than sending the convict to prison.

After reviewing the submissions from both parties, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Mbadiwe to five years in prison. However, he also granted him the option of paying a fine of N3 million instead of serving time.

The judge also directed that the drug and the iPhone Pro Max 12 be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.

The allegations against Emeka included: “That you, Mbadiwe Emmanuel Emeka, a male adult, on or around December 24th, 2024, facilitated the importation of 17.30 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa by Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James during an inspection of incoming cargo with Airway Bill No:00637337285 from Houston at the National Handling Company (NAHCO) Import Shed located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja-Lagos. This narcotic drug is comparable to cocaine, LSD and heroin. Your actions constitute an offence under section 21(1)(e), punishable according to section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30 laws established by Nigeria’s Federation in 2004.”