Court Jails Cab Driver For Unlawful Trafficking Of 12 Live Parrots

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a taxi driver, Sabiu Haruna, to six months in prison for unlawfully having in his possession and selling 12 live parrots.

Justice Bogoro jailed Haruna after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of the offences brought against him by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under case number FHC/L/534C/2025.

The prosecutor, Vivian Aigbadon, had earlier informed the court that the convict was arrested following intelligence provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission, an international organisation established in 2015.

Aigbadon also claimed that the convict was apprehended on June 2, 2025, along Festac Road 22 in Lagos State, while in possession of 12 live parrots, which included six African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus), a Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus), and two Budgerigar Parrots (Melopsittacus undulatus).

The prosecutor maintained that Haruna’s actions violated sections 7(3) and 7 (4) of the National Environmental Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade Regulations, 2011, and were punishable under section 7(4) of the same Act.

She also insisted that the offences violated 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.

Based on his plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and requested that the court convict and sentence him according to the NCS Act under which he was charged. However, Haruna’s lawyer urged the court to temper justice with mercy.