The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) has released an official statement clarifying its role in the arrest and eventual conviction of a former junior staff member, Mr. Sunday Adakole, who was sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos for stealing and attempting to traffic 25 kilogrammes of Ephedrine Hydrochloride—a prohibited substance classified alongside hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
In the statement issued on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, NAHCO emphasised that it was the Company’s security operatives who arrested Adakole after he allegedly stole one drum of Ephedrine Hydrochloride legally imported by Vitabiotics Nigeria Limited. The consignment had been stored in NAHCO’s Dangerous Goods section pending Customs clearance.
According to the Company, NAHCO Security Officers apprehended Adakole on July 28, 2025, and immediately handed him over to the Nigerian Police at the NAHCO Police Division, Airport Police Command.
NAHCO explained that the consignment belonged to Vitabiotics, a reputable pharmaceutical company, and was part of a lawful importation process. The substance went missing during routine storage procedures, prompting an internal investigation. The Company’s CCTV surveillance system was deployed to track the movement of the shipment, ultimately identifying Adakole as the suspect.
Following his arrest, NAHCO said it later escalated the case to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after it became clear that the substance involved was drug-related. A formal request for case transfer was made on August 25, 2025, to the NDLEA’s Strategic Commander for the Hajj & Cargo Terminal. A separate update was also sent to NAFDAC on August 28, 2025.
General Manager, External Relations, NAHCO Plc, Mr. Ahmed Bashir Gulmah, said: “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”.
Gulmah noted that contrary to widely circulated news reports, Adakole was not a Manager, nor had he ever attained officer status within NAHCO. He was a junior staff member who misused his access to the warehouse to steal the item, which he later attempted to sell to a local buyer.
He stressed that the Company acted responsibly and lawfully by arresting the suspect and alerting enforcement agencies, which conducted their investigations and secured a conviction on December 2, 2025.
Gulmah commended the NDLEA for its swift handling of the case and reaffirmed NAHCO’s commitment to continued collaboration with all security and regulatory bodies operating at Nigeria’s airports. He also criticised some media outlets for publishing reports without seeking clarification from the Company.
Offering further insight, , NAHCO’s Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye,
described many of the headlines as “sensational,” emphasising that the facts remained clear:
“The item was legally imported by Vitabiotics and stored in the correct section of our warehouse. An unscrupulous individual with access to the facility stole it and attempted to sell it.
“NAHCO apprehended him and handed him over to the authorities, who did their job by investigating, prosecuting, and securing a conviction”.
Ajakaye added that NAHCO had received commendation from the investigating and prosecuting authorities for escalating the matter promptly and for its continued cooperation with enforcement agencies.
NAHCO reiterated its commitment to upholding the highest standards of security and accountability across all its operations.
ok