Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced four drug lords to a total of 28 years of imprisonment with hard labour for their involvement in Nigeria’s largest-ever cocaine seizure.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Persecondnews recalls the major cocaine bust on September 18, 2022, where NDLEA operatives raided a property in Ikorodu, seizing 2,139.55 kg of cocaine, and subsequently arrested the convicts from various hideouts in Lagos.
The four convicted drug kingpins received sentences ranging from three to 16 years imprisonment, with some also facing hard labour.
Soji Jubril Oke (71) got five years with hard labour; Wasiu Akinade (55) bagged three years with hard labour; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67) was given 16 years, and Kelvin Christopher Smith (44, a Jamaican) bagged 4 years with hard labour.
The court ordered the forfeiture of various assets belonging to the convicts, including a Toyota Tacoma SUV, $50,000 USD, and a total of N67,155,972.76 in Nigerian currency.
Additionally, two properties: House Number 6 Olokunola Street, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, and House Number J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos, were confiscated.
Justice Bogoro stressed that the properties in question were purchased with funds generated from illegal drug trafficking activities and subsequently ordered that they be sold, with the resulting proceeds going directly to the federal government.
The Chairman of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, hailed the investigation and prosecution teams, calling the convictions and asset forfeitures a historic victory against drug cartels.
Marwa said: “This case serves as a stern warning to drug traffickers—they will not only face jail terms but also forfeit their ill-gotten wealth and properties acquired through criminal enterprises.”
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