PICTORIAL: 4 Drug Kingpins Bag 28 Years jail Term, Forfeit VGC Houses, N67m, $50,000

Four drug kingpins arrested in connection with the historic seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine at an Ikorodu residential estate in Lagos State in 2022, have been convicted by a Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro, who sentenced them to various jail terms totaling 28 years with hard labour.

The convicts: Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Wasiu Akinade, 55; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican, were charged with six counts in charge number: FHC/L/607C/2022 in October and December 2022, while the trial of the fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday, arraigned along with them is currently ongoing in court.

The charges border on conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organisation (DTO); management and financing of a DTO; importation and possession of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine, among others.

A statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, on Thursday, said operatives of a special operations unit of NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation on Sunday, September 18, 2022, raided a house located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, Lagos, where the over 2.1 tons of cocaine were seized, the largest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s anti-narcotic operations.

“The drug kingpins were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between the night of Sunday 18th and Monday 19th September, 2022.

“After over two years of diligent prosecution, the trial judge handed the Jamaican, Kelvin Christopher Smith four years imprisonment with hard labour; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu got a total of 16 years; Soji Jubril Oke got five years with hard labour and Wasiu Akinade three years with hard labour. The trial judge, 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.

“They were also to forfeit a grey colour Toyota Tacoma SUV marked AAA-734HT registered in the name of Emmanuel Chukwu; $50,000:00 USD (Fifty Thousand US Dollars) belonging to Chukwu; N55,099,509.50 (Fifty-Five Million, Ninety-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Nine Naira, Fifty Kobo only) also belonging to Chukwu; the sum of N9,003,168.06 (Nine Million Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Eight Naira Six Kobo only) belonging to Wasiu Akinade and N3,052,295.20 (Three Million, Fifty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Five Naira Twenty Kobo only), also belonging to Akinade,” he stated.

The anti-narcotics agency also in another suit marked FHC/L/MISC/672/2024 and filed before Justice Bogoro on December 9, 2024, after an initial interim forfeiture order, secured the final forfeiture of two houses linked to members of the drug cartel. According to the trial court: “That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal

Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number 6 Olokunola Street,

Sholebo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 2A, 2B,

and 2C attached to this application used for the storage and concealment of 2,139.55kg (More Than Two Tons) Cocaine, an illicit substance similar to Heroin and LSD.

“That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate, Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 3 attached to this application reasonably believed to be bought with proceeds derived from trafficking in illicit drug substances (proceeds of crime) as in relief 1 of this Motion.

“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.”

While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation and prosecution of members of the drug cartel, chairman/chief executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the case is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll not only go to jail but will equally lose all their investments in illicit drug consignments, including all the properties and wealth acquired through the criminal trade.

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