NIGERIA: Court Convicts Four Drug Kingpins Over Nigeria’s Largest Cocaine Seizure

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted four drug lords connected to the historic seizure of 2.1 tonnes of cocaine in 2022 at a residential estate in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria.

Justice Bogoro sentenced the culprits to a cumulative 28 years imprisonment with hard labor.

The Director of Media and Advocacy for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday.

The convicted individuals include Soji Jubril Oke (71), Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67), Wasiu Akinade (55), and Kelvin Christopher (44), a Jamaican.

The court charged them with six counts, including conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organisation, the management and financing of a drug trafficking operation, as well as the importation and possession of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine.

The trial began in October and December 2022 under charge number FHC/L/607/2022.

However, the trial of a fifth suspect arraigned alongside the convicted individuals is still ongoing.

Their journey into the Correctional institution began when NDLEA raided a property located at 6 Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, leading to the largest singular cocaine seizure in Nigeria’s anti-narcotics history.

According to the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the ground-breaking seizure resulted from a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation by the NDLEA’s special unit on September 18, 2022.

He said: “The drug kingpins were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between the night of Sunday 18th and Monday 19th September 2022.

“After over two years of diligent prosecution, the trial judge handed the Jamaican, Kelvin Christopher Smith, four years imprisonment with hard labor; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu received a total of 16 years; Soji Jubril Oke got five years with hard labor; and Wasiu Akinade three years with hard labor.

“The trial judge, however, gave the convicts varying options of fine, except one of them who will serve his full jail term without an option of fine.”

Babafemi further disclosed that the convicted individuals forfeited various assets, including A grey Toyota Tacoma SUV registered in the name of Emmanuel Chukwu and a sum of $50,000 and N55,099,509.50 (Fifty-Five Million, Ninety-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Nine Naira, Fifty Kobo).

A sum of N9,003,168.06 (Nine Million, Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Naira, Six Kobo) and N3,052,295.20 (Three Million, Fifty-Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira, Twenty Kobo, belonging to Wasiu Akinade were also forfeited.

Additionally, the NDLEA, through a suit filed on December 9, 2024, under charge number FHC/L/MISC/672/2024, secured the final forfeiture of two houses linked to the drug dealers.

These properties were reportedly used to store and conceal the cocaine.

Meanwhile, Babafemi commended all the officers at the Agency involved in the investigation and prosecution of the members of the drug.

He also relayed that the Chief Executive Director of NDLEA, Bridget General Mohammed noted that the case is one of a kind, and a historical one.

She reaffirmed that the convicted drug dealers will not only be imprisoned, but all their investments in illicit drug consignments, property and wealth acquired through the business will be seized.

Babafemi commended the NDLEA officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

He also relayed a statement from the NDLEA Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), who described the case as historic and reaffirmed that the drug traffickers will not only face imprisonment, but also forfeit all assets acquired through illicit drug activities.