Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced four drug kingpins to various jail terms totalling 28 years with hard labour.
The convicts were arrested in connection with the historic seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of illicit drugs at an Ikorodu residential estate in 2022.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) identified the convicts as Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Wasiu Akinade, 55; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican.
NDLEA disclosed this in a statement on its X handle on Thursday.
It said the trial judge after over two years of diligent prosecution sentenced Smith to four years imprisonment with hard labour, Chukwu to 16 years, Oke to years with hard labour, and Akinade to three years with hard labour.
Justice Yellim Bogoro, however, gave the convicts varying options of fine with the exception of one of them who will serve his full jail term without an option of fine.
The court ordered the forfeiture of a grey colour Toyota Tacoma SUV, $50,000 USD, N55,099,509.50 belonging to Emmanuel Chukwu, N9,003,168.06 and N3,052,295.20 belonging to Wasiu Akinade.
The court secured the final forfeiture of two houses linked to members of the drug cartel – 6 Olokunola Street, Sholebo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, Lagos State and Number J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate, Lagos, Lagos State.
“That an Order is granted directing the sale or disposal by any other means provided by law of the forfeited House/Landed Property by the Applicant and the payment of the proceeds therefrom to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge held.
2.1 tons cocaine seizure: 4 drug lords get 28yrs in jail, forfeit VGC houses, N67m, $50,000
– Their conviction and forfeiture of their assets a historical blow to illicit drug trade, says Marwa
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— NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) December 26, 2024
