No fewer than 974 offenders have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms, including 11 drug kingpins who collectively received 254 years in prison during the first quarter of 2026, as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified arrests, prosecutions, and asset forfeitures of drug traffickers and their collaborators nationwide.
Of the 974 convicted traffickers between January and March, 899 were male and 75 female. By month, 265 convictions were secured in January, 316 in February, and 393 in March.
Among the 11 top kingpins was Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama), a notorious Italy-based businessman. He faced a 15-count charge before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos (FHC/L/851C/2025). On 18 March, Justice Kakaki convicted Solomon on all counts, sentencing him to 130 years in prison. In addition to concurrent prison terms ranging from four to 15 years per count, the court revoked his pharmacy license, forfeited two pharmacy branches, and seized funds from three bank accounts.
Another major convict, 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun, was sentenced to 25 years by Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan (FHC/IB/97C/2025) on 26 February 2026. Animashaun had previously served a one-year sentence for a similar offence in July 2022.
Other notable sentences include:
- Rauf Asogba (28) and Seun Olaniyi (24) – 17 years each for trafficking 1,779 kg of skunk (FHC/AB/160C/2025).
- Jonathan Nuhu (54) and Idris Yusuf (40) – 15 years each, with Yusuf also receiving an additional eight-year sentence for a prior case.
- Godday Obizuo, Asabe Abubakar, Godwin Peter, Asuquo Christian, and Olabode Sunday – seven years each for drug trafficking in various states.
In response, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Mohamed Buba Marwa described the sentencing of the 11 kingpins as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. He emphasized that the conviction of 974 offenders in three months sends a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for those who destroy the nation’s youth.
Marwa commended the Judiciary for the swift handling of cases, calling timely justice the most potent deterrent. He also praised NDLEA officers:
“Your bravery in the face of danger is yielding results. We will continue to prioritize your welfare and provide the tools needed to stay ahead of these criminal syndicates.”
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, noting that these victories belong to citizens who provide the intelligence that fuels NDLEA operations.
