Tag: drug kingpins

….forfeit cash, luxury vehicles

Five members of international organized criminal groups (IOCG) arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been sentenced to a total of 21 years’ imprisonment for trafficking 68.9 kilograms of cocaine and tramadol through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

According to Babafemi, three members of one of the cartels: Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke, were apprehended after NDLEA operatives intercepted 17.9 kilograms of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms bound for Sydney, Australia, at the airport’s export shed on August 26, 2025.

Further investigation led to the recovery of 20.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from Ogunbiyi’s residence in Lekki, as well as a black Range Rover SUV (RBC 459 EJ) from Adegoke’s home in Ikeja GRA.

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The suspects were subsequently arraigned on five counts in charge number FHC/L/925C/2025 before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on October 30, 2025, where they pleaded guilty to all charges.

Delivering judgment on October 31, Justice Kakaki sentenced each of the three convicts to five years in prison without an option of fine, amounting to 15 years total. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Venza car seized from the convicts to the Federal Government.

In a related case, two other drug kingpins: Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah, were arrested after NDLEA officers intercepted 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and 27.9 kilograms of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts en route to Gabon through the Lagos airport on July 19, 2025.

Following the completion of investigations, both men were charged before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, under charge number FHC/L/980C.

During their arraignment on November 4, they pleaded guilty to all six counts. After reviewing the facts, Justice Lewis-Allagoa convicted and sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a N2 million fine in lieu of jail.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of N4 million, which Obunike had attempted to use as a bribe for NDLEA officers, to the Federal Government.

Babafemi said the convictions underscore NDLEA’s continued resolve to dismantle international drug trafficking networks and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law.

Five members of some international organised criminal groups (IOCG) recently arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in connection with the seizure of 68.9 kilograms cocaine and tramadol at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos have been sentenced to combined 21 years imprisonment.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Friday.

Babafemi said the trio of Olasupo Michael Oladimeji; Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi; and Sola Adegoke who are leaders of one of the cartels was arrested following the seizure of 17.9 kilograms of cocaine concealed in textile materials and local charms going to Sydney, Australia at the export shed of the MMIA Lagos on 26th August 2025.

He said in the course of investigation, 20.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from Ogunbiyi’s home in Lekki and a black Range Rover SUV marked RBC 459 EJ found in Adegoke’s residence in Ikeja GRA.

Babafemi said they were subsequently arraigned on five counts in charge number FHC/L/925C/2025 before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos on 30th October 2025.

He said the accused persons later pleaded guilty to the charges against each of them.

The statement reads: “Delivering his judgement on 31st October, Justice Kakaki sentenced each of them to five years imprisonment without the option of fine, bringing the total number of years in jail for the three of them to 15 years.

“The court further ordered that the Range Rover SUV and a Toyota Venza Car seized from the convicts in the course of the investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Similarly, two kingpins of another syndicate: Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah were arrested by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of 2.60kg cocaine and 27.90kg tramadol concealed in motor spare parts being taken to Gabon through the Lagos airport on 19th July 2025.

“At the end of investigation, the duo were charged and arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court Lagos on six counts in charge number FHC/L/980C.

“Upon their arraignment on Tuesday 4th November, they both pleaded guilty and after a review of the facts of the case, the two defendants were convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment or payment of a fine of N2million each in lieu of jail while the N4m paid by Obunike to bribe NDLEA officers was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.”

…Marwa commends judiciary, MMIA, AIIA, Adamawa commands of NDLEA.

…says conviction ‘ll strengthen deterrent effect of efforts against drug cartels

Four drug kingpins: Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi; Iloduba Augustine Chinonye; Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (a.k.a Don) and Zidon Zurga have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 95 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos and Yola, Adamawa state over trafficking of cocaine and skunk worth over N4.6 billion.

Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on on Friday.

Babafemi narrated, “Ogbuji was intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos on Wednesday 18th September 2024 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos for importing 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.40 kilograms with an estimated street value of Four Billion Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Million Naira (N4,656,000,000.00).

“That was barely 16 months after the 48-year-old businessman was arrested and convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine. 

“He was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, on Wednesday 10th May 2023 upon arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.986kg. 

“He was subsequently arraigned before Federal High Court 12 Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023 and convicted on 13th July 2023. 

“Ogbuji was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00), which he paid and was set free.

“Not done with crime, Ogbuji was again arrested at the Lagos airport with the large consignment of cocaine on 18th September 2024, after which he was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court Lagos in charge number: FHC/L/845C on 16th January 2025. 

“He was eventually sentenced on 28th February to five years imprisonment on count one with an option of seven million naira fine and 10 years imprisonment on count two without an option of fine. 

“In the event that he failed to pay the N7million fine, the judge ruled that the convict will serve a total of 15 years in jail consecutively. 

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“The court ordered the forfeiture of monetary exhibits and other items found on him at the time of his arrest.

“In his own case, 51-year-old Iludoba was arrested by NDLEA operatives on new year eve, 31st December 2021 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for cocaine trafficking. 

“He was found to have ingested 58 wraps of the illicit drug, 48 of which he excreted on transit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while he expelled the balance of 10 in NDLEA custody after his arrest on 1st January 2022. 

“He was thereafter arraigned on two counts in charge number FHC/EN/CR/18/2022 before Justice Folashade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu.

“After three years of diligent prosecution, Iludoba was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count, bringing his total years in jail to 10 years, which will run concurrently from the date of his conviction, Wednesday 5th March 2025.

*In the case of Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (a.k.a Don), 55, and Zidon Zurga, 50, they were arrested by NDLEA operatives on 25th November 2024 along Numan- Yola road with 500.800kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in a pilot Toyota Hilux vehicle marked Lagos NT 829 AAA and a Prado SUV with a fake presidency number plate 01B-266 FG.

“They were later arraigned before Justice Bala Usman in charge number: FHC/YL/150 /2024 and convicted on 7th February 2025 to 35 years imprisonment each on two counts, bringing the combined years in jail for both of them to 70 years or pay a fine of N25 million each. 

“The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of the two jeeps used in trafficking the illicit drug consignment.”

Reacting to the conviction of the trio, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the trial courts, the teams of officers who investigated and prosecuted the three cases at the MMIA Strategic Command in Lagos, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Special Area Command, Enugu and the Adamawa State Command for their diligence and professionalism. 

He said the conviction and the forfeiture of the convicts’ instruments of crime will further strengthen the deterrent effect of our ongoing effort to totally dismantle every drug network in the country.