The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed that Ajetsibo Emami, who was convicted for unlawful dealing in illicit drugs, paid the ₦50 million fine imposed on him by the court as an alternative to serving a six-year prison sentence.
According to the agency in an e-mail sent to our correspondent on Thursday , Emami was arrested on June 24, 2025, during a follow-up operation that stemmed from the seizure of 414.2 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of Cannabis sativa.
The NDLEA said investigations linked Emami to the seized consignment, identifying him as its owner.
Following the conclusion of investigations, he was charged before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on July 29, 2025, for unlawful dealing in the recovered substance.
The agency stated that when he was arraigned on August 18, 2025, Emami pleaded guilty to the charge.
“The subject was convicted and subsequently sentenced to a six-year term of imprisonment with an option of a ₦50 million fine, which he paid,” the NDLEA said.
The agency added that, by virtue of the conviction, “Mr. Emami is a convicted drug offender.”
The clarification comes amid public interest in the status of Emami’s conviction and whether he remained in custody after his sentencing. The NDLEA’s latest confirmation settles the issue by stating that he exercised the court-granted option of paying the ₦50 million fine instead of serving the custodial sentence.
