Four high-profile drug kingpins have been sentenced to a combined 95 years in prison by the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Yola, Adamawa State. The convictions, which also include the forfeiture of luxury vehicles and other assets, mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug cartels.
The convicted individuals—Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi, Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (alias Don), and Zidon Zurga—were found guilty of trafficking cocaine and skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) worth over N4.6 billion. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) played a pivotal role in their arrests and prosecution.
Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi: A Repeat Offender
Ogbuji, a 48-year-old businessman, was first arrested on 10th May 2023 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986kg. He was convicted on 13th July 2023 and sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N3 million, which he paid to secure his release.
However, barely 16 months later, Ogbuji was arrested again on 18th September 2024 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for importing 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.40kg, valued at N4.656 billion. He was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on 16th January 2025, and sentenced on 28th February to five years imprisonment on count one (with an option of a N7 million fine) and 10 years imprisonment on count two (without an option of fine). If he fails to pay the fine, Ogbuji will serve a total of 15 years in prison. The court also ordered the forfeiture of monetary exhibits and other items recovered from him.
Iloduba Augustine Chinonye: Cocaine Trafficker
Iloduba, 51, was arrested on New Year’s Eve, 31st December 2021, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 58 wraps of cocaine. He excreted 48 wraps in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the remaining 10 in NDLEA custody. After a three-year trial, Justice Folashade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu, sentenced him to five years imprisonment on each of two counts, totaling 10 years, to run concurrently from 5th March 2025.
Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (Don) and Zidon Zurga: Skunk Traffickers
Shuaibu, 55, and Zidon, 50, were arrested on 25th November 2024 along the Numan-Yola road with 500.800kg of skunk concealed in a Toyota Hilux and a Prado SUV with a fake presidency number plate. They were arraigned before Justice Bala Usman of the Federal High Court, Yola, and sentenced on 7th February 2025 to 35 years imprisonment each on two counts, totaling 70 years collectively. Alternatively, they could pay a fine of N25 million each. The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of the two vehicles used in the crime.
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