Crime

NDLEA jails 11 drug kingpins to 254 years in prison

Marwa commended the Judiciary for the accelerated hearing of the cases, noting that swift justice is the most potent deterrent.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 17, 2026

OCHEFA

94 Views

No fewer than 974 offenders have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms including 11 drug kingpins who bagged 254 years imprisonment in the first quarter of 2026 as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ramped up the arrest, prosecution and forfeiture of the assets of drug traffickers and their collaborators across the country.

Of the 974 drug traffickers convicted between January and March, 899 of them are male and 75 females, while a further breakdown of the conviction figure shows that 265 were secured in January, 316 in February and 393 in March.

Top on the list of the 11 drug kingpins who were successfully prosecuted and convicted within the period include a notorious Italy-based 42-year-old businessman, Adegbite Solomon (a.k.a Obama) who was arraigned on 15-count charge before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court Lagos in suit number: FHC/L/851C/2025.

Delivering his ruling on the matter on 18th March, Justice Kakaki convicted the repeat offender on all 15 counts and sentenced him to a total of 130 years in prison.

Specifically, Justice Kakaki sentenced Adegbite to 15 years’ imprisonment on count 1; 15 years on count 2; 15 years on count 3; 15 years on count 4; 15 years on count 5; 15 years on count 6; 10 years on count 7; four years on count 8; four years on count 9; four years on count 10; four years on count 11; four years on count 12; and 10 years on count 15.

While the prison sentence is to run concurrently, the trial judge also ordered the revocation of the convict’s pharmacy license and the forfeiture of two branches of his pharmacy store as well as the forfeiture of funds in his three bank accounts to the Federal Government, among others.

Another top drug kingpin sentenced to long years in prison in the first quarter of the year is 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun who was arraigned by NDLEA before Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo state in charge number: FHC/IB/97C/2025.

In her judgment delivered on 26th February 2026, Justice Maha convicted and sentenced Animashaun to 25 calendar years for drug trafficking.

The convict was first convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment for a similar offence on 15th July 2022 by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court following his arrest by NDLEA along Lagos/Ibadan expressway on 27th March 2022.

Two other convicts who bagged long years imprisonment are: Rauf Asogba, 28, and Seun Olaniyi, 24, who were convicted and sentenced to 17 years in jail each by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court Abeokuta, Ogun state on 28th January 2026 after NDLEA arrested and charged them to court for trafficking 1,779 kilograms of skunk in suit number: FHC/AB/160C/2025.Another set of two convicts got 15 years imprisonment each.

They are: 54-year-old Jonathan Nuhu (a.k.a Doctor) who was convicted by Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano, Kano state on 17th March 2026 following his arraignment by NDLEA in charge:

FHC/KN/CR/96/2023, and 40-year-old Idris Yusuf who was sentenced on 31st March 2026 by Justice Fatima Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, Yobe in suit number FHC/CR/6/21, in addition to another eight years sentence for a similar case brought against Yusuf by NDLEA in charge number FHC/CR/DM/16/24.

Other convicts who got seven years imprisonment each for drug trafficking offences in parts of the country include: Godday Obizuo in FHC/AK/64C/2024; Asabe Abubakar in FHC/BAU/CR/16/2026; Godwin Peter, Asuquo Christian and Olabode Sunday in FHC/AD/CR/66/2024.

In his reaction to the conviction of the drug offenders, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described the sentencing of the 11 drug kingpins to a combined 254 years in prison as a watershed moment in the country’s war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

He noted that the conviction of 974 offenders between January and March 2026 sends an unambiguous message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for those who trade in human lives and derive pleasure in destroying the lives of the nation’s youth.

According to him, “Securing 974 convictions in just three months is a testament to the relentless spirit of our officers and the thinning patience of the Nigerian state toward drug merchants. To the 11 kingpins who thought they were untouchable, their 254-year collective residency in correctional centres is a firm reminder that the long arm of the law has finally caught up with their greed.”

Marwa commended the Judiciary for the accelerated hearing of the cases, noting that swift justice is the most potent deterrent.

To officers, men and women of the Agency, he said”Your bravery in the face of danger is yielding fruit. We will continue to prioritize your welfare and provide the tools needed to stay ahead of these criminal syndicates.”

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, adding that “these victories belong to the citizens who provide the intelligence that fuels our operations.”

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Crime

JUST IN: Suspected Bandits Kill 10 in Zamfara Ambush

Published

18 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Charles Flames

30 Views

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured when suspected bandits ambushed a convoy along the Gusau–Magami–Dansadau Road in Zamfara State on Monday.

An unspecified number of persons were also abducted during the attack.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred between 4pm and 5pm as vigilante operatives were escorting residents home in a convoy. The attackers suddenly opened fire on the vehicles.

Among those killed were five traders, three local hunters, and a member of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG).

The injured victims were rushed to Magami General Hospital for immediate treatment. They were scheduled to be referred to Gusau for further care, but as of the time of this report, they remained at the Magami facility due to the lack of a security escort.

Crime

Homosexuality: Police nab 37-year-old man with 3 minors with 500 naira inducement

Published

4 days ago

May 7, 2026

Charles Flames

66 Views

A 37-year-old man, Isah Usman of Angwan Biri, who sells honey in the Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, has been arrested by the police for forcefully having unnatural carnal knowledge of young boys aged 13, 14 and 15 severally in his room.

The incident, which occurred on 23rd April at about 3:30 p.m., was reported to the Bosso Division, where the suspect lured the minors with 500 naira each and some honey as an inducement to commit the act with them.

Confirming the development, spokesman of the police, Superintendent Wasi’u Abiodun, in a statement said the victims were taken to Police Clinic, Minna, for a medical examination, which confirmed the allegation and indicated penetration, while the suspect also confessed to the act.

The suspect, according to the police, has been transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation, after which he will be charged to court for prosecution.

Similarly, on the 28th April at about 5:45 p.m.m, Abiodun said a report was received at GRA Division that on the same date at about 4p.m, a 14-year-old boy was seen spending money lavishly and when questioned by his Boss, who is a mechanic.

The teenager, upon interrogation, revealed that another 16-year-old usually gives him between two thousand and two thousand five hundred naira after performing unnatural sexual acts with him in an uncompleted building around Tayi village.

The suspect was said to have been immediately arrested, and an investigation is ongoing to identify other victims and possible accomplices for investigation and prosecution for unnatural offences.

The police therefore advised Parents/Guardians to monitor and protect their wards against such unnatural offences to prevent the health implications for the victims.

Crime

NDLEA, US-DEA nab Nigerian billionaire drugs baron

Properties already identified and linked to Amadi Simon as proceeds of illicit drug funds include Jovi Hotel at 1 Isiayei Street GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites at 4 Orikeze by Deeper Life Road, Agbor, Delta State; as well as Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court Mabushi, Abuja.

Published

5 days ago

May 7, 2026

OCHEFA

57 Views

A Nigerian a billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, had been arrested in Switzerland along with his co-conspirators: 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi, in Anambra state, and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi, in Agbor, Delta state.

In a statement on Thursday, the NDLEA said that the arrest of the trio followed months of intelligence and investigations across multiple jurisdictions linking Amadi to the laundering of hundreds of billions of Naira in proceeds of drug and financial crimes.

In addition to the arrest of the suspects, the NDLEA, in collaboration with its international law enforcement partners, has also traced multi-billion assets linked to Amadi’s transnational criminal network in Nigeria and abroad.

“His operations in Nigeria included a complex scheme of front and shell companies; pass-throughs and delegates; and the use of numerous traditional and cryptocurrency accounts to conceal and launder illicit funds.

“Also, several bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses used by the cartel to conceal hundreds of billions of illicit funds have also been identified and blocked.”

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd),expressed gratitude for the support received from the US-DEA to crack and dismantle Amadi’s transnational criminal network, adding that the US mission to Nigeria has continued to partner with the agency to combat narcotics trafficking through training in intelligence, evidence collection, case management, and tactical operations as well as the provision of critical equipment.