Four drug kingpins sentenced to prison, forfeit luxury vehicles — NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the conviction and sentencing of four major drug traffickers by the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Yola, Adamawa.

In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the convicts were found guilty of trafficking cocaine and skunk worth over ¦ 4.6 billion.

The convicted individuals were identified as Ifeanyi Ogbuji, Iloduba Chinonye, Shuaibu Isa (also known as Don), and Zidon Zurga.

Babafemi revealed that Ogbuji was apprehended by NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 18 September 2024, during an inbound clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers from Addis Ababa.

He was found to be smuggling 817 wraps of cocaine, weighing 19.40 kilograms, with an estimated street value of ¦ 4.6 billion.

“This arrest occurred just 16 months after the 48-year-old businessman was first convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine,” Babafemi stated.

Ogbuji’s previous arrest took place at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on 10 May 2023, after arriving from Uganda via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951. He was caught ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.986 kilograms.

Following his first arrest, Ogbuji was prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja and sentenced on 13 July 2023 to two years imprisonment, with an option of a ¦ 3 million fine, which he paid to secure his release.

“Despite this conviction, Ogbuji returned to drug trafficking and was arrested again at Lagos Airport with a larger quantity of cocaine on 18 September 2024,” Babafemi added.

On 16 January 2025, he was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos under charge number FHC/L/845C.

“Ogbuji was sentenced on 28 February to five years imprisonment on count one, with an option of a ¦ 7 million fine, and 10 years on count two, with no option of a fine.

“If he fails to pay the ¦ 7 million fine, he will serve a total of 15 years in prison consecutively. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of all cash and items recovered from him at the time of his arrest,” Babafemi explained.

In another case, 51-year-old Iloduba was arrested on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2021, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for cocaine smuggling.

According to Babafemi, Iloduba ingested 58 wraps of cocaine but expelled 48 while in transit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He later excreted the remaining 10 wraps while in NDLEA custody after his arrest on 1 January 2022.

Iloduba was charged under case number FHC/EN/CR/18/2022 before Justice Folashade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu.

“After three years of diligent prosecution, Iloduba was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count, bringing his total jail term to 10 years. However, the sentences will run concurrently from the date of his conviction on 5 March 2025,” Babafemi stated.

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Nuhu Isa (alias Don) and 50-year-old Zidon Zurga were arrested by NDLEA operatives on 25 November 2024 along the Numan-Yola Road.

They were found in possession of 500.8 kilograms of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) hidden inside a Toyota Hilux with registration number Lagos NT 829 AAA and a Prado SUV bearing a fake presidency number plate, 01B-266 FG.

Following their arraignment under charge number FHC/YL/150/2024 before Justice Bala Usman, both men were convicted on 7 February 2025 and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment each on two counts.

“This means they will serve a combined total of 70 years in prison or pay a fine of ¦ 25 million each. The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of the two SUVs used in trafficking the illicit drugs,” Babafemi said.

Reacting to the court rulings, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, praised the judiciary and the agency’s investigative teams for their commitment to tackling drug trafficking.

He also commended NDLEA officers stationed at the MMIA Strategic Command in Lagos, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Special Area Command in Enugu, and the Adamawa State Command for their professionalism.

Marwa stated, “These convictions and the forfeiture of assets linked to drug crimes will further reinforce our resolve to dismantle drug syndicates and eliminate illicit networks across the country.”