Four drug lords involved in the historic seizure of 2,139.55 kilos of cocaine from a residential property in Ikorodu in 2022 have been sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The convicts – Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Wasiu Akinade, 55; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican – were arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agency at various locations in Lagos between the evening of Sunday, September 18 and the morning of Monday, September 19, 2022.
The arrests followed a raid at No. 6 Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos, where over 2.1 tonnes of cocaine was seized. This seizure remains the largest in the history of Nigeria.
The convicts were charged with six counts under charge number FHC/L/607C/2022 in October and December 2022. Christmas in Austria, where tradition meets a touch of mystery0:00 / 0:00
Christmas in Austria, where tradition meets mystery0:00 / 1:01
The trial of a fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday, who was charged alongside them, is still ongoing.
In a statement on Thursday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said Judge Yellim Bogoro sentenced the convicts to a total of 28 years in prison with hard labour.
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The statement read in part: "The trial judge sentenced Jamaican Kelvin Christopher Smith to four years in prison with hard labor; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu to a total of 16 years; Soji Jubril Oke was sentenced to five years in prison and Wasiu Akinade to three years in prison.
"The trial judge however gave the convicts different options for fines, except for one who will have to serve the entire prison sentence without the possibility of fines. He also ordered the confiscation of a grey Toyota Tacoma SUV (registration number AAA-734HT) registered in the name of Emmanuel Chukwu, ₦50,000 belonging to Chukwu, ₦55,099,509.50 also belonging to Chukwu, and ₦0.080. ₦ 3,052,295.20 also belongs to Akinade."
In another development, the NDLEA has secured the final forfeiture of two properties linked to the drug cartel in a case with reference FHC/L/MISC/672/2024 and filed before the Bogoro Magistrates' Court on December 9, 2024. Babafemi quoted the court as saying: "A final order of forfeiture is hereby granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the land/house number 6 Olokunola Street, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos State, used for the storage and concealment of 2,139.55kg. of cocaine. , an illegal substance.
"A final order of forfeiture is also granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the land/house number J9, Street 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City Estate, Lagos State, which is reasonably believed to have been acquired with the proceeds of drug trafficking.
"An order is hereby made directing the sale or disposal of the confiscated property by any lawful means, with the proceeds payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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