The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured the conviction of four drug kingpins involved in the record-breaking seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine in Ikorodu, Lagos, in 2022.
The Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro, sentenced the convicts to a combined 28 years of imprisonment with hard labor and ordered the forfeiture of properties and cash linked to their criminal activities.
The convicts, including Jamaican national Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44; Soji Oke, 71; Emmanuel Chukwu, 67; and Wasiu Akinade, 55, faced six charges related to drug trafficking, conspiracy, and possession of illicit substances. Chukwu received 16 years, Smith four years, Oke five years, and Akinade three years.
In addition to the sentences, the court mandated the forfeiture of A Toyota Tacoma SUV registered to Emmanuel Chukwu, $50,000 and over ₦55 million belonging to Chukwu, Over ₦12 million belonging to Akinade, Two properties and one in Ikorodu used for cocaine storage and another in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos, purchased with illicit proceeds.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi detailed the convictions and praised the agency’s intelligence-led operation, which led to the historic drug bust and subsequent arrests between September 18–19, 2022.
Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the team for their diligence, emphasizing that the convictions serve as a strong warning to drug cartels. “They will not only face jail terms but also lose all their criminal investments,” Marwa declared.
The court also granted the Federal Government authorization to sell the forfeited properties, with proceeds directed to the national treasury.
