Four drug kingpins have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 95 years in prison by the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Yola, Adamawa State, for trafficking cocaine and skunk worth over N4.6 billion. The convicts, Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi, Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (a.k.a Don), and Zidon Zurga, were prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), leading to the forfeiture of their vehicles and other assets.

Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi was arrested on September 18, 2024, by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers from Addis Ababa. He was caught importing 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.40kg, valued at N4.656 billion. This was his second arrest, as he had previously been caught ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on May 10, 2023, while arriving from Uganda. He was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison or a N3 million fine, which he paid. Upon his second arrest, Ogbuji was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on January 16, 2025, and sentenced on February 28, 2025. He received five years imprisonment on count one (with an option of a N7 million fine) and 10 years imprisonment on count two (without an option of a fine). If he fails to pay the fine, he will serve a consecutive 15-year jail term. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all exhibits and valuables found on him during his arrest.

Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, 51, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on December 31, 2021, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 58 wraps of cocaine. He excreted 48 wraps in transit through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and expelled the remaining 10 wraps in NDLEA custody on January 1, 2022. After three years of prosecution, Iloduba was convicted on March 5, 2025, by Justice Folashade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment on each of two counts, totaling 10 years, which will run concurrently from the date of his conviction.

Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (a.k.a Don), 55, and Zidon Zurga, 50, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on November 25, 2024, along the Numan-Yola road in Adamawa State. They were caught trafficking 500.8kg of skunk concealed in a Toyota Hilux (marked Lagos NT 829 AAA) and a Prado SUV with a fake presidency number plate (01B-266 FG). Both men were convicted by Justice Bala Usman of the Federal High Court, Yola, on February 7, 2025, and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment each on two counts, bringing their total combined jail term to 70 years. The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of the two luxury vehicles used in the drug operation.

Reacting to the convictions, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the judiciary and the MMIA Strategic Command in Lagos, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Special Area Command, Enugu, and the Adamawa State Command for their dedication and professionalism. He stated, "The convictions and the forfeiture of the convicts’ assets will further strengthen the deterrent effect of our ongoing efforts to dismantle drug networks across the country." These convictions mark a significant victory in Nigeria’s fight against drug cartels, reinforcing the NDLEA’s commitment to tackling illicit drug trafficking and organized crime.