The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) has issued a comprehensive clarification on the circumstances leading to the conviction of its former staff member, Mr Sunday Adakole, who was recently sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos for stealing and trafficking 25 kilogrammes of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, a prohibited and highly regulated substance.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, NAHCO emphasised that contrary to speculation and sensationalised media reports, the Company itself initiated the arrest of Adakole and escalated the case to the relevant authorities after uncovering the theft.
According to the Company, Adakole was apprehended on 28 July 2025 by NAHCO Security Officers following the disappearance of one drum of Ephedrine Hydrochloride from the Company’s Dangerous Goods section.
The consignment, legally imported by Vitabiotics Nigeria Limited, had been stored in the facility pending Customs clearance when it was allegedly stolen by the former staff member.
Once the missing item was reported, NAHCO deployed its extensive CCTV surveillance system to trace the movement of the consignment. Footage from the system reportedly indicated that Adakole had accessed the restricted storage area and removed the drum without authorisation.
He was immediately arrested by NAHCO security and handed over to the Nigerian Police at the NAHCO Police Division, Airport Police Command.
Further investigations revealed the nature of the stolen material, prompting NAHCO to formally request that the case be transferred 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. The Company also briefed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in a letter dated 28 August 2025.
The General Manager, External Relations, Mr Ahmed Bashir Gulmah, underscored that NAHCO treated the incident initially as a routine case of warehouse theft until it became clear that the stolen item was drug-related.
He noted that the Company acted responsibly by involving the NDLEA immediately after confirming the substance’s classification.
“NAHCO first addressed this matter as a theft incident, which was why Mr Adakole was handed over to the Police. Once it was established that the item involved was drug-related, we took the appropriate step by reporting to NDLEA,” Gulmah stated.
He also highlighted that Adakole had never held a managerial or officer-level position within the Company, describing him instead as a junior staff member who exploited his limited access privileges to commit the theft.
Gulmah criticised sections of the media for publishing misleading headlines without contacting the Company for clarification, noting that such reporting distorted NAHCO’s role in the incident.
Providing further insight, the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, explained that the stolen Ephedrine Hydrochloride had been properly stored in the Dangerous Goods section – an area specially designated for controlled consignments. He said Adakole attempted to sell the stolen drum to a local buyer before his arrest.
“The Company simply arrested him and handed him over to the authorities, who carried out their investigation and prosecution. He was convicted on 2 December 2025. NAHCO has also been commended by the investigators for escalating the matter and for its consistent cooperation with law enforcement,” Ajakaye said.
NAHCO reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding safety standards, supporting security agencies, and ensuring the integrity of operations within Nigeria’s airports.
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