365NEWS gathered that Four drug kingpins linked to the historic 2022 seizure of 2.1 tonnes of cocaine at a residential estate in Ikorodu, Lagos, have been convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Yellim Bogoro sentenced the culprits to a total of 28 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The director of media and advocacy for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The convicted individuals include Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Wasiu Akinade, 55; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican. They were charged with six counts, including conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organisation (DTO), management and financing of a DTO, and the importation and possession of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine.
Their trial was initiated in October and December 2022 under charge number FHC/L/607C/2022.
Meanwhile, the trial of a fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday, who was arraigned alongside the convicted individuals, is still ongoing.
Babafemi noted that the massive cocaine haul was the result of a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation conducted on Sunday, 18 September 2022, by a special NDLEA unit.
The raid targeted a property at 6 Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, and led to the largest singular cocaine seizure in Nigeria’s anti-narcotics history.
The statement reads, “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 labour; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu received a total of 16 years; Soji Jubril Oke got five years with hard labour; and Wasiu Akinade three years with hard labour. 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.
“They were also to forfeit a grey-colored Toyota Tacoma SUV marked AAA-734HT registered in the name of Emmanuel Chukwu; $50,000.00 USD (Fifty Thousand US Dollars) belonging to Chukwu; N55,099,509.50 (Fifty-Five Million, Ninety-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Nine Naira, Fifty Kobo only) also belonging to Chukwu; the sum of N9,003,168.06 (Nine Million Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Naira Six Kobo only) belonging to Wasiu Akinade, and N3,052,295.20 (Three Million, Fifty-Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira Twenty Kobo only), also belonging to Akinade.”
Babafemi added that the Agency also, in another suit marked FHC/L/MISC/672/2024 and filed before Justice Bogoro on 9 December 2024 after an initial interim forfeiture order, secured the final forfeiture of two houses linked to members of the drug cartel.
According to the statement, the trial court directed, “That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number 6 Olokunola Street, Sholebo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 2A, 2B, and 2C attached to this application used for the storage and concealment of 2,139.55kg (More Than Two Tons) Cocaine, an illicit substance similar to Heroin and LSD.
“That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate, Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 3 attached to this application reasonably believed to have been bought with proceeds derived from trafficking in illicit drug substances (proceeds of crime) as in relief 1 of this Motion.
“That an Order is granted directing the sale or disposal by any other means provided by law of the forfeited House/Landed Property by the Applicant and the payment of the proceeds therefrom to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Babafemi said, while commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation and prosecution of members of the drug cartel, that the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that the case is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll not only go to jail but will equally lose all their investments in illicit drug consignments, including all the properties and wealth acquired through the criminal trade.
