Two men sentenced for trafficking endangered pangolins
Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Dagunduro Bunmi and Oniyide Olusegun to 18 months in prison for possessing endangered wildlife. The two men were found guilty of having three live pangolins, a protected species, after an operation by Focused Conservation and the Nigeria Customs Service. The court also gave them the option of a fine and ordered one week of community service. The trial of a third defendant, Godwin Nwali, is set to continue on June 24, 2026.
What happened
- Dagunduro Bunmi and Oniyide Olusegun were convicted for unlawful possession of three live pangolins.
- The men were arrested at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, following an operation led by Assistant Comptroller of Customs A. Mani.
- They initially pleaded not guilty but later changed their plea to guilty during the resumed hearing on Monday.
- The prosecution stated the offence took place on December 9, 2025, at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
- The court adjourned the trial of the third defendant, Godwin Nwali, to June 24, 2026.
