Crushed by the Gavel: Nigerians React as Edo Sentences Disabled Man and Six Others to 93 Years
In a ruling that has stirred public debate and sharp criticism, an Edo State High Court has sentenced a physically challenged man and six others to a collective 93 years in prison for various drug-related offences.
While the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) hailed the verdict as a victory in its war against illicit drugs, many Nigerians are asking deeper questions: Is justice truly blind? Or does it see only the vulnerable?
According to court documents, the group was arrested in a sting operation led by the NDLEA in Benin City. Substances found included cannabis, methamphetamine, and other narcotics. After months of trial, the court handed down harsh sentences ranging from 10 to 17 years per person, with a physically challenged suspect reportedly receiving the same treatment as his able-bodied co-defendants.
Observers inside the courtroom described the sentencing as “stone cold,” with no visible consideration for the convict’s condition or rehabilitation potential.
“This isn’t justice, it’s a purge,” said one legal observer outside the courtroom. “We applaud drug control, but are we doing it by dumping broken people into broken prisons?”
The ruling has reignited long-standing concerns about how the Nigerian justice system treats the poor, the disabled, and the voiceless.
“We’ve seen corrupt politicians walk free after stealing billions. But a poor, disabled man gets double digits for a few grams? God is watching.” — @ChukaTweets
“Our prisons are full of the powerless, not the powerful.” — Activist Mariam Adegbite
While Nigeria continues its tough-on-drugs stance in line with global pressure, critics argue that it’s easier to imprison the street-level players than to dismantle the criminal networks enabling drug trade at scale.
“Where are the barons?” asked one activist. “Every time a major bust happens, it’s the small fish who end up being fried.
But as the six men are led away to begin their decades-long sentences, many are left wondering whether the justice served was truly just, or just another example of a system that looks the other way until it sees the weak.
