A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a man to one year in prison for dealing in pangolin scales, an endangered species protected under Nigerian law.
Justice Yellim Bogoro handed down the sentence to the accused, Steven Chinonso, also known as Chukwunonso Stephen Obunadike, after he pleaded guilty to three charges related to the illegal trade.
Chinonso was prosecuted by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for offences bordering on conspiracy, possession, and sale of pangolin scales.
The NCS said the convict was arrested along with two others, James Igboeze and Mbah Chinedu Christopher, at the Alatise area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, on April 2, 2025.
Prosecutor Barrister Michael Osong told the court that the operation followed an intelligence tip-off provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission.
He said the defendants were found in possession of 3,761.1 kilograms of pangolin scales, which are listed as endangered and prohibited for trade under Nigerian and international conventions.
The prosecution said the offence violated Section 5(1) of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) (Amendment) Act, 2016, and Section 9(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011.
The defendants initially pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before the court last year.
However, during the resumed hearing, Chinonso informed the court of his decision to change his plea to guilty on all three counts.
Following his new plea, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict him accordingly.
Justice Bogoro confirmed that the accused was a first-time offender before delivering judgment.
The court sentenced him to one year imprisonment on each of the three counts but gave him an option of a fine of ₦200,000, ₦200,000, and ₦250,000 respectively.
The judge ruled that the prison terms would run concurrently, while the fines would be paid consecutively.
Justice Bogoro also adjourned the trial of the two remaining defendants, Igboeze and Chinedu, to February 19, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
Nigeria has intensified its crackdown on wildlife trafficking in recent years, as pangolin scales remain one of the most trafficked animal products in the country.