2 Men Jailed 24 Months For Smuggling 140 Bags Of Contraband Rice -By Paul Sanusi

Two men, Kappo Waheed and James Oke, have been convicted and sentenced to 24 months imprisonment each, for conspiracy and unlawful possession of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, by a Federal High Court, Lagos.   

Justice Akintayo Aluko who presided over the court, passed the sentenced the two convicts, after they both pleaded guilty to a two count-charge made against them by the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, under the supervision of the Controller, Gambo I. Aliyu.

The two convicts and others now at large, according to the prosecutors, Barrister Michael Osong and Barrister Vivian Aigbadon, were arrested on July 23, 2026 at the Badagry Waterway by the Nigeria Navy and handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service.

During the convicts arrest, the prosecutors said they were found in possession of 140 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50 Kilogrames each.

In reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutors presented evidence establishing that the rice was intercepted along the Badagry waterways, a route frequently used by smugglers to evade security agencies and customs checkpoints.

The prosecutors told the court that the convicts acts, contravened sections Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And Section  234(2) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and punishable under section 234(3) of the same Act. 

Upon conclusion of the reviewing the facts of the prosecutors prayed the court to sentence the owing to their guilty plea and exhibits tendered.

However, the two convicts through their lawyer begged the court to be merciful on to them and give them fine option in lieu of custodian sentence.

Justice Aluko in his judgment, sentenced the two convicts to 12 months imprisonment on each of the counts.

The judge however ruled that the jail-term shall run concurrently. While also ruled that should the convicts elect to pay fine, each of them should N1 million as fine option.

The charges against the convicts read: “That you, Kappo Waheed, male, adult, James Oke, male, ad others now at large, on or about the 23rd day of July, 2026, along Badagry Waterways, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, conspired among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: possession of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Aci, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

“That you, Kappo Waheed, male, adult, James Oke, male, and others now at large, on or about the 23rd day of July, 2026, along Badagry Waterways, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, were found to be in possession of 140 (One Hundred and Forty) bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50 (fifty) kilogrammes each, not being goods manufactured in Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 234(2) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and punishable under section 234(3) of the same Act.”