In a significant victory for Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts, three notorious drug kingpins, along with 16 other offenders, have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 302 years in prison for their roles in trafficking and dealing in a variety of illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and opioids. The convictions were the result of thorough investigations, arrests, and diligent prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), underscoring the agency’s commitment to curbing the spread of narcotics in the country.
The announcement of these convictions was made by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, in a statement issued in Abuja. According to Babafemi, the 19 individuals sentenced this month are among the 414 drug traffickers and dealers convicted by the Federal High Court across various states, including Benue, Bauchi, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between July 1st and 31st, 2024. The successful prosecution of these cases reflects the agency’s intensified crackdown on drug-related crimes in Nigeria.
One of the most prominent figures among the convicted is Bolanle Lookman Dauda, a 50-year-old kingpin whose operations extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. Dauda was apprehended in an intelligence-led raid by a special operation unit of the NDLEA at Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, while attempting to cross the land border to deliver a substantial consignment of drugs to Ghana on May 25th, 2024. At the time of his arrest, Dauda was found in possession of 42 blocks of cocaine weighing a total of 47.5 kilograms. The arresting officers wasted no time in following up on their initial success, conducting a swift search of Dauda’s residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo Road, Agbara, Ogun State, where they discovered an additional eight blocks of cocaine, bringing the total seizure to a staggering 57.5 kilograms.
Dauda was subsequently brought before Hon. Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, under charge number FHC/L/537C/2024. In a judgment delivered on July 19th, 2024, Justice Allagoa sentenced Dauda to 21 years in prison. However, the court offered an alternative option of a ₦30 million fine, reflecting the weight of the offense and the need for deterrence in such cases.
Another significant conviction involved 34-year-old Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi, who was arrested at the bustling Idumota market in Lagos Island. Ifeanyi was found in possession of no fewer than 1,100 ampoules of fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid known to be 100 times more potent than heroin. The 6.480 kilograms of fentanyl seized from Ifeanyi represent a significant haul of a drug that has been a major contributor to overdose deaths globally, particularly in the United States, where it is responsible for over 70% of such fatalities.
Ifeanyi was charged and brought before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos, under charge number FHC/L/433C/2024. The trial judge, after carefully considering the evidence, convicted Ifeanyi on two counts and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. As with Dauda, Ifeanyi was given the option of a fine, set at ₦2 million.
Another notable case was that of Christian Anyanwu, who was arrested on November 26th, 2022, with 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside custard tins and packed among cosmetics and foodstuffs. The drugs were intended to be smuggled to Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight. Anyanwu’s case was brought before Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who, on July 12th, 2024, handed down a 16-year prison sentence. In this case, the judge imposed four years of mandatory imprisonment without the option of a fine, underscoring the severity of the crime.
Other offenders who faced mandatory prison sentences for drug trafficking in July include Moses Yakubu, who received a 25-year sentence on July 22nd from Justice Rita Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Similarly, Oluosun Okikiola was sentenced to 15 years in prison on July 17th by Justice A.A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State. In another case, Justice R.J. Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, Benue State, convicted and sentenced Chanchan Terpase to seven years in prison on July 9th. Additionally, Justice C.O. Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Benin, Edo State, sentenced Beauty Gani to 30 years in prison on July 3rd, with an option of an ₦8 million fine.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the efforts of the officers involved in these successful operations and the judiciary for their expeditious handling of the cases. He emphasized that the sentencing of these convicts would further strengthen the agency’s efforts to reduce the supply of drugs in Nigeria.
These convictions highlight the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Nigeria, a fight that the NDLEA is determined to win. The agency’s recent successes serve as a strong warning to those involved in the illicit drug trade that they will face the full weight of the law. The 302 years of cumulative prison sentences handed down in these cases demonstrate the seriousness with which the Nigerian judiciary is treating drug-related offenses, as the country continues to work toward a drug-free society.
