A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced a 23-year-old man, Kabir Adamu, to eight years in prison for attempting to smuggle cannabis sativa into a court premises, cunningly concealed inside a loaf of bread.

Adamu’s scheme was uncovered at the Kano State High Court on Miller Road, where he arrived carrying what appeared to be an ordinary loaf. Correctional officers on duty, acting on suspicion, subjected the item to closer scrutiny and discovered quantities of cannabis carefully tucked into the bread and repackaged to look untouched.

Investigators said the illicit package was intended for a remand inmate popularly known as Wizzy, who was then standing trial at the court. The interception immediately triggered a security alert within the court complex, underscoring the growing concern over attempts to infiltrate judicial and correctional facilities with hard drugs.

Adamu was promptly arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and both the suspect and the seized exhibit were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for detailed investigation and prosecution.

Following what officials described as a diligent and methodical investigation, NDLEA operatives arraigned Adamu before the Federal High Court in Kano. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced by Justice S M Shuaibu to eight years imprisonment without the option of a fine, signalling the court’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking within sensitive institutions.

Commander CN D Y Lawal of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command welcomed the judgment, describing it as a clear message to criminal networks seeking to exploit perceived loopholes in court and prison security.

Lawal said the ruling reflects the growing synergy between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in tackling substance abuse and drug-related offences, particularly those that threaten the integrity of justice and correctional systems.

He noted that the case highlights how traffickers are increasingly resorting to unconventional concealment methods, from food items to personal effects, in a bid to evade detection, and stressed that officers are being trained and equipped to anticipate and counter such tactics.

The NDLEA also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious drug-related activities, insisting that community cooperation remains vital to the broader campaign for a drug-free Nigeria.