Four individuals connected to the historic seizure of over 2.1 tons of cocaine in Ikorodu, Lagos, have been sentenced to a total of 28 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro.
The convicts—Soji Jubril Oke (71), Wasiu Akinade (55), Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67), and Kelvin Christopher Smith (44), a Jamaican—faced a six-count charge related to drug trafficking, importation, and possession of cocaine.
Their trial followed the September 2022 raid on a residence in Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, where 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine were seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In the operation, described as Nigeria’s largest single cocaine bust, NDLEA operatives apprehended the suspects from various locations across Lagos.
Following over two years of legal proceedings, the court handed down the following sentences:
Kelvin Christopher Smith: 4 years imprisonment
Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu: 16 years imprisonment
Soji Jubril Oke: 5 years imprisonment
Wasiu Akinade: 3 years imprisonment
The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets linked to the drug cartel.
These include a Toyota Tacoma SUV, cash amounting to $50,000, over ₦67 million in naira, and two properties: one in Ikorodu used for storing the cocaine and another in Victoria Garden City believed to have been purchased with proceeds from drug trafficking.
The Federal Government was granted permission to sell these properties and retain the proceeds.
NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohammed Marwa (retired) praised the agency’s efforts, stating the convictions and forfeitures serve as a significant victory in the fight against drug cartels.
He warned that traffickers not only face imprisonment but will also lose all assets acquired through their illicit trade.