Four prominent drug traffickers have been sentenced to a total of 95 years in prison after being convicted for trafficking over N4.6 billion worth of cocaine and skunk.
The convicts—Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi, Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (also known as Don), and Zidon Zurga—also had their luxury vehicles confiscated by the Federal Government.
According to a statement from Femi Babafemi of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ogbuji, aged 48, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on 18th September 2024 while attempting to import 817 wraps of cocaine, weighing 19.40 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N4.65 billion.
Babafemi revealed that Ogbuji had a history of drug offenses. In May 2023, he was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine, which weighed 1.986 kilograms. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of N3,000,000, which he paid to secure his release.
However, less than 16 months later, he was arrested again at the Lagos airport with a larger cocaine consignment. On 28th February 2025, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sentenced Ogbuji to five years for one count, with an option of a N7 million fine, and 10 years for another count without an option for a fine. Should he fail to pay the fine, Ogbuji will serve a consecutive 15-year prison term.
Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, aged 51, was arrested on 31st December 2021 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu for ingesting 58 wraps of cocaine. He later excreted 48 wraps in transit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and expelled the remaining 10 wraps under NDLEA custody. After three years of prosecution, Iloduba was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Shuaibu Nuhu Isa and Zidon Zurga were arrested on 25th November 2024 on Numan-Yola Road with 500.8 kilograms of skunk concealed in a Toyota Hilux and a Prado SUV. They were convicted on 7th February 2025 and sentenced to 35 years each in prison. Their vehicles were also ordered to be forfeited.
These convictions represent a significant victory for the NDLEA in the fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria.
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