A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has sentenced four drug barons to a combined 28 years of imprisonment with hard labour for their roles in the seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine.
This has been described as the largest single haul in Nigeria’s history.
The court, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro, also ordered the forfeiture of their assets, including luxury properties and millions in cash.
The convicts, Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; Wasiu Akinade, 55; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican, faced multiple charges, including conspiracy, drug trafficking, and possession of cocaine.
Arrested in a series of raids in Lagos in September 2022, they were linked to a house in Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, used to conceal the cocaine shipment.
While Smith received four years, Chukwu was sentenced to 16 years, Oke to five years, and Akinade to three years. Justice Bogoro imposed varying fines but excluded one convict from this option.
The NDLEA also secured the final forfeiture of properties linked to the cartel, including a mansion in Victoria Garden City (VGC) and a residence in Ikorodu.
Luxury vehicles, $50,000, and over ₦67 million were confiscated.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the convictions, describing them as a significant blow to drug cartels in Nigeria.
