- Four drug kingpins have been sentenced to a combined 28 years imprisonment with hard labour.
- The convicts were linked to Nigeria’s largest-ever cocaine seizure of 2.1 tons in Ikorodu, Lagos.
- Assets worth millions of naira, including properties and vehicles, were forfeited.
- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) hailed the ruling as a historic victory against drug cartels.
In a historic ruling, a Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced four drug kingpins to a combined 28 years imprisonment with hard labour. The convicts, linked to Nigeria’s largest-ever cocaine seizure of 2.1 tons in Ikorodu, Lagos, were found guilty of drug trafficking.
The convicts include Soji Jubril Oke (71), who received 5 years imprisonment; Wasiu Akinade (55), who got 3 years; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67), who was sentenced to 16 years; and Kelvin Christopher Smith (44, Jamaican), who received 4 years imprisonment.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court also ordered the forfeiture of assets linked to the convicts, including a Toyota Tacoma SUV, $50,000 USD, ₦55,099,509.50, ₦9,003,168.06, and ₦3,052,295.20. Two properties in Ikorodu and Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos, were also confiscated.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the ruling as a historic victory against drug cartels, emphasizing that drug traffickers will face not only jail terms but also forfeit their ill-gotten wealth and properties .
