A Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a cab driver, Sabiu Haruna, to six months imprisonment for unlawful possession and trading of parrots.
The trial judge, Justice Yellim Bogoro slammed the cab driver with the jail-term , after he pleaded guilty to the two charges made against him by the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in a charge marked FHC/L/534C/2025.
NCS through its prosecutors, Vivian Aigbadon and Michael Osong, told the court that the convicted cab driver arrest was sequel to an intelligence provided by Wildlife Justice Commission, an international foundation set up in 2015. with the three species of the bird,
The prosecutors also told the court that driver was arrested on June 2, 2025, along Festac Road 22, Lagos State, with a total of 12 live parrots which are: six African G Parrots a.k.a Psittacus Erithacus erithacus; Senegal Parrot a.k.a.Poicephalus senegalus and two Budgerigar Parrot a.k.a. Melopsittacus undulatus.
The prosecutors told the court that the driver’s act, contravened sections 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade Regulations, 2011, and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Act.
And section 5(1) of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 5(1)(a) of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2016.
The convict admitted the committing the crime and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Based on his plea, the prosecutors reviewed the facts of the charge and prayed the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with NCS Act he was charged with.
However, the convict’s lawyer, in his allucutor pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.
Based on the parties’ submissions, Justice Bogoro sentenced the cab driver to six months imprisonment.
Charges against the cab driver read: “that you, Sabiu Haruna, Male, Adult, on or about the 2nd day of June, 2025, along FESTAC Road 22, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Fed High Court, Lagos, was found to be in possession of six live African G Parrots (Psittacus Erithacus erithacus), four live Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) and two live Budgerigar Parrot (Melopsittacus undulatus), endangered wildlife specimens, which possession is absolutely prohibited in the First Schedule of the Endanger Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and thereby committed offence contrary to section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade Regulations, 2011, and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Act.
“That you, Sabiu Haruna, Male, Adult, on or about the 24 day of June, 2025, along FESTAC Road 22, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos, traded in six live African G Parrots (Psittacus Erithacus erithacus), four live Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) and two live Budgerigar Parrot (Melopsittacus undulatus), endangered wildlife specimens, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section.”
