The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded 974 convictions for drug-related offences in the first quarter of 2026, including 11 major traffickers sentenced to a combined 254 years in prison.
The convictions, secured between January and March, reflect an intensified crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, with 899 male and 75 female offenders prosecuted. A monthly breakdown shows 265 convictions in January, 316 in February, and 393 in March.
Among the high-profile cases is that of Italy-based businessman Adegbite Solomon, also known as “Obama,” who was convicted on a 15-count charge by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The 42-year-old received a cumulative sentence of 130 years imprisonment, to run concurrently, alongside orders revoking his pharmacy licence and forfeiting assets, including pharmacy outlets and funds in multiple bank accounts to the Federal Government.
Similarly, 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for drug trafficking. The conviction marks a repeat offence following an earlier one-year jail term handed to him in 2022.
In Ogun State, Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, sentenced Rauf Asogba, 28, and Seun Olaniyi, 24, to 17 years imprisonment each after their conviction for trafficking 1,779 kilograms of skunk.
Other notable convictions include 54-year-old Jonathan Nuhu, also known as “Doctor,” who received a 15-year sentence from Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Kano, and Idris Yusuf, 40, who was sentenced by Justice Fatima Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State, to multiple jail terms, including an additional eight years for a separate offence.
Several other offenders across the country were handed seven-year prison sentences for drug trafficking.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the outcome as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
He said the volume of convictions sends a strong signal that the country is no longer a safe haven for drug syndicates, adding that the lengthy sentences imposed on major traffickers underscore the growing effectiveness of law enforcement efforts.
Marwa commended the judiciary for expediting the cases, noting that swift justice remains a critical deterrent against organised drug crime. He also praised NDLEA personnel for their dedication and urged Nigerians to continue supporting the agency with credible intelligence to sustain the momentum.
