A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Omoruyi Terry to two years behind bars for attempting to smuggle 800 grams of Tramadol out of the country. Justice Ayokunle Faji delivered the judgment after the 33-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Omoruyi was arrested on March 19, 2025, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport during passenger screening for Qatar Airways flight QR1406 headed to Venice, Italy, via Doha. NDLEA prosecutor Bibiana Eze told the court that the drugs were found during routine checks at Terminal II. During arraignment, Omoruyi admitted to exporting the drug illegally. His lawyer, Oreofe Ogunleye, pleaded for mercy, stating that the convict was a first-time offender and had cooperated with investigators. However, Justice Faji dismissed claims that Omoruyi didn’t know the substance was illegal. The judge pointed to his frequent international travel, saying someone who flies between Nigeria and Italy twice a month for three years should know the rules. Omoruyi’s sentence takes effect from the day of his arrest, March 19, 2025.
