In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, four high-profile drug kingpins have been handed a combined 95 years of imprisonment for their involvement in cocaine and skunk trafficking worth over N4.6 billion.
The convictions were secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) across courts in Lagos, Yola, and Adamawa, marking a significant victory in the fight against narcotics trade.
The convicted criminals are Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi, Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (popularly known as Don), and Zidon Zurga. Their operations spanned international borders, with illicit substances trafficked into Nigeria and across various routes.
Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi: A Repeat Offender
Ogbuji, a 48-year-old businessman, was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on September 18, 2024, while attempting to smuggle 19.40 kilograms of cocaine—worth an estimated N4.6 billion—into Nigeria from Addis Ababa.
This arrest marked a troubling second for Ogbuji, who had previously been convicted in 2023 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine. Despite serving a sentence for that crime, Ogbuji’s return to drug trafficking was swift.
On February 28, 2025, the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced him to a total of 15 years in prison.
The sentence comprises five years for the first charge with an option of N7 million fine, and 10 years for the second charge, with no alternative to imprisonment. Additionally, Ogbuji’s illicit gains and other seized items were ordered forfeited to the state.
Iloduba Augustine Chinonye: The Cocaine Mule
Iloduba, a 51-year-old man, was caught on December 31, 2021, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu after being found with 58 wraps of cocaine, which he had ingested.
While in transit in Addis Ababa, he expelled 48 of the wraps, leaving the remaining 10 when arrested by NDLEA operatives.
After three years of legal proceedings, Iloduba was convicted on March 5, 2025, to a 10-year prison sentence for trafficking in cocaine. His sentence will run concurrently.
Shuaibu Nuhu Isa and Zidon Zurga: The Skunk Traffickers
Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (Don), 55, and Zidon Zurga, 50, were apprehended on November 25, 2024, along the Numan-Yola road with a staggering 500.8 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.
The illicit drugs were concealed in two vehicles, including a Toyota Hilux and a Prado SUV with a fraudulent presidential number plate. On February 7, 2025, both were convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison each.
The court also imposed a fine of N25 million each and ordered the interim forfeiture of the luxury vehicles used for drug trafficking.
A Stern Message to Drug Traffickers
Reacting to the convictions, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the prosecution teams and the trial courts.
He stated that these convictions and the confiscation of the criminals’ assets underscore the agency’s ongoing commitment to dismantling drug trafficking syndicates across Nigeria.
Marwa added that such actions serve as a warning to those involved in the narcotics trade that the law will not relent in its pursuit of justice.
With this landmark ruling, the NDLEA continues to send a clear message to drug traffickers that their operations will not go unpunished.
The ongoing efforts to tackle drug-related crimes remain a top priority for Nigeria, as authorities push forward with robust operations to protect the nation from the scourge of illicit drugs.
