NAHCO Clarifies Circumstances Surrounding Jailing of Ex-Staff Over Stolen Drug Consignment
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) has issued a detailed clarification on the circumstances that led to the conviction of its former staff member, Mr Sunday Adakole, by a Federal High Court in Lagos for stealing and trafficking 25 kilogrammes of Ephedrine Hydrochloride – a prohibited substance classified in the same category as cocaine and heroin.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, the Company stressed that it was NAHCO security operatives who first arrested the ex-staff and reported the matter to law enforcement authorities, contrary to claims circulating in certain media reports.
According to the Company, Adakole was apprehended by NAHCO Security Officers on 28 July 2025 after he allegedly stole one drum of Ephedrine Hydrochloride legally imported by Vitabiotics Nigeria Limited.
The consignment, which was being stored in NAHCO’s warehouse under the Dangerous Goods section pending Customs clearance, was reportedly taken by Adakole while the clearance process was still ongoing.
Following the discovery that the item was missing, NAHCO security personnel reviewed footage from the company’s ultra-modern CCTV system and traced the disappearance of the shipment to Adakole. He was subsequently handed over to the Nigerian Police at the NAHCO Police Division, Airport Police Command, on the same day.
As the investigation progressed, NAHCO said it became clear that the matter involved a drug-related substance, prompting the Company to request a formal transfer of the case to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
This request was made in a letter dated 25 August 2025 to the NDLEA’s Strategic Commander at the Hajj & Cargo Terminal. A separate update was also sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on 28 August 2025.
“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,” stated Mr Ahmed Bashir Gulmah, General Manager, External Relations, NAHCO Plc.
Gulmah further clarified that Adakole was neither a Manager nor an Officer at any time during his employment with NAHCO, describing him instead as a junior staff member. He emphasised that the former employee was arrested for warehouse theft – not for involvement in drug importation or exportation – as the item in question was legally imported by a reputable pharmaceutical firm.
He reiterated that NAHCO itself escalated the matter to authorities, leading to the successful prosecution and conviction of Adakole, who was found guilty on 2 December 2025.
Gulmah also criticised the manner in which some media outlets published sensational headlines without seeking the Company’s input, noting that this contributed to misinformation about NAHCO’s role in the case.
Providing further clarification, the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, explained that the stolen item had been properly stored in a secure section of the warehouse designated for dangerous goods.
He said Adakole exploited his access as a staff member to steal the consignment and attempted to sell it to a local buyer before he was apprehended.
“The Company simply arrested him and handed him over to law enforcement authorities who did their job by investigating and prosecuting him. He was convicted on December 2, 2025. The Company has received commendation from the investigating and prosecuting authority for escalating this matter and for being a faithful partner with enforcement agencies all the time,” Ajakaye added.
NAHCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies and ensuring the safety and integrity of operations within Nigeria’s airports.
