A Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro, has sentenced four drug lords to a total of 28 years imprisonment following their involvement in the record-breaking seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine in Ikorodu, Lagos, in 2022.
The convicts, including a Jamaican national, were handed varying jail terms with hard labor. Among them, Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu received 16 years, Soji Jubril Oke was sentenced to five years, Wasiu Akinade got three years, and Jamaican Kelvin Christopher Smith was jailed for four years. Options of fines were granted to some, except one, who will serve the full sentence.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered the forfeiture of assets linked to the convicts, including two houses in Victoria Garden City (VGC) and Ikorodu, vehicles, and substantial cash amounts. These assets were deemed proceeds of the drug trade.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had, in a September 2022 operation, seized the cocaine haul at a residential estate in Ikorodu—the largest single drug seizure in Nigeria’s history. The convicts were arrested in various locations across Lagos during the operation.
Justice Bogoro further ordered the sale of the forfeited properties, with proceeds directed to the Federal Government of Nigeria. NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the agency’s efforts, calling the case a significant victory against drug cartels and a deterrent to future offenders.
