A federal high court in session
The sacked staff member of Nahco-Aviance, Mr Sunday Adakole, who was caught stealing sensitive cargo from the company’s warehouse, has been tried at a federal high court in Lagos and found guilty of theft. And on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025, the court subsequently sentenced Sunday Adekole to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour, without any option of a fine.
Mr Sunday Adekole, whom the company had summarily dismissed as soon as the company’s internal investigation fingered him deeply involved in the crime, Nahco management wasted no time in officially reporting the matter to the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, for appropriate action.
The police charged Sunday Adekola with stealing and trafficking in 25 kilograms of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, a prohibited substance said to be similar to cocaine and heroin.
According to a statement by Nahco, the stolen drum was among the shipments imported by a renowned pharmaceutical company, Vitabiotics. The shipments were labelled Dangerous Goods and stored in the company’s special facility.
The statement noted that Sunday Adekole gained access to that sensitive section of the warehouse when the process of customs clearing of the cargo started, with the view to delivering the cargo to the importer, Vitabiotics.
It stated that it was at this clearance stage that a missing drum from among the shipments was noticed and Nahco security operatives swung into action without delay.
Hence, Nahco security officials promptly employed the use of its ultra-modern companywide CCTV system to trace and track the missing shipment.
Sahco said after the initial investigation indicated Adakole was the culprit, he was promptly arrested by Nahco security, handed over to the Police, and summarily disengaged from the company.
Nahco further clarified, “It should be made abundantly clear that NAHCO first treated this matter as a theft incident in its warehouse, which was why Mr Adakole was handed over to the Police. Upon establishing that the item was drug-related, NAHCO did the right thing by reporting the matter to NDLEA,” the General Manager, External Relations, NAHCO PLC, Mr Ahmed Bashir Gulmah, stated.
Gulmah also disclosed that “it is important to note that although Sunday Adakole was a staff at NAHCO, he was never a Manager in the Company at any time. He was a junior staff who was yet to attain the level of an Officer in NAHCO”.
Gulmah lauded the NDLEA for bringing a swift closure to the case, assured all stakeholders that NAHCO is always ready to partner, assist and work with all law enforcement agencies while carrying out its legitimate duties at the airports.
The Assistant General Manager, AGM, Corporate Communications of Nahco, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, appealed to journalists filing stories to endeavor to always cross check for the facts and when the fact is cloudy, they can reach the corporate communications department for clarification.
Ajakaye said the culprit did not import narcotics nor was he trying to export any. He explained that the sacked staff had stolen from sensitive cargoes at the warehouse, and he was desperate to sell to any willing buyer for quick gain.
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