……..It was the Company that arrested the staff and reported a case of theft to the Authorities

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) has issued categorical clarifications on the reported jailing of a former staff of the Company, Mr. Sunday Adakole, by a Federal High Court, Lagos, on charges of stealing and trafficking in 25 kilogrammes of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, a prohibited substance said to be similar to cocaine and heroin.

In a statement by the Company on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, NAHCO stated that its security operatives (NAHCO Security Officers) arrested Adakole Sunday on July 28, 2025, on allegations of theft of one (1) drum of Ephedrine Hydrochloride legally imported by Vitabiotics Nigeria Limited, and kept in the Company’s warehouse pending customs clearance and release to the importer.

Mr. Adakole was handed over to the Nigerian Police, NAHCO Police Division, Airport Police Command, on July 28, 2025.

The Company explained that the shipment, among others, was imported into the country by a reputable pharmaceutical company, Vitabiotics.

The shipment was stored in the Company’s special facility labelled Dangerous Goods section. It was while the process for clearance by Customs and formal release of the shipment to the importer, Vitabiotics, was ongoing that Mr. Adakole, stole the item.

Upon receipt of report that the item was missing from the Dangerous Goods section of the warehouse, NAHCO Security officials promptly employed the use of its ultra-modern companywide CCTV system to trace the mission shipment.

After the initial investigation indicated Adakole was the culprit, he was promptly arrested by NAHCO security and handed over to the Police.

However, during the course of several weeks, NAHCO had cause to request for the transfer of the case from the Police to the NDLEA in a letter to the NDLEA’s Strategic Commander, Hajj & Cargo Terminal, on August 25, 2025.

NAHCO also provided update to NAFDAC on the matter in a letter dated August 28, 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,”the General Manager, External Relations, NAHCO PLC, Mr. Ahmed Bashir Gulmah, stated.

Gulmah also stated 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.

Additionally, he was arrested by NAHCO for theft in its warehouse and not for attempting to import into or export prohibited materials, but for stealing legally imported shipment.

Also, it was NAHCO that reported the matter to law enforcement agencies which took up the matter.

Gulmah who 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 NAHCO GM decried the lack of recourse to NAHCO by reporters before publishing the report.

In his further clarification on the issue, the AGM, Corporate Communications, NAHCO, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, said, “The sensational headlines in many reports on this matter may appear tantalizing.

However, the indestructible facts remain that the item was legally imported into the country by a foremost pharmaceutical firm, Vitabiotics.

It was stored in a special section of our warehouse meant for such a consignment.

An unscrupulous individual, who because of his association with the Company had access to the warehouse, gained access to where the item was stored and stole it. He made attempt to sell same to a local receiver/buyer.

“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.”