Akanbi-Akinlade, Adekunle

Adekunle Akanbi-Akinlade was convicted on 2nd May 2007 at Isleworth Crown Court of being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of goods contrary to Section 170(2)(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.

He was refused leave to appeal in 2007. He applied to the CCRC for a review of his conviction in 2010.

Mr Akanbi-Akinlade was stopped at London Heathrow Airport as he returned on a flight from Nigeria. The handles of his suitcases were found to contain 1.099kg of 100% pure cocaine with a street value of £174,000.

Having investigated the case, the CCRC decided to refer Mr Akanbi-Akinlade’s conviction because new evidence undermining the credibility of a key prosecution witness gave rise to a real possibility that the Court of Appeal would quash the conviction.

The CCRC referred the conviction in March 2012.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in November 2012.