By Nkechi Eze
In a series of major legal victories that underscore Nigeria’s intensifying war against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured multiple convictions and final forfeiture orders across Lagos, Kano, and Enugu, following high-profile arrests and detailed investigations that led to the dismantling of several illicit drug networks and their assets.
In an official signed statement, Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi disclosed that on Monday, 4th August 2025, businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, were sentenced to a combined total of 22 and a half years imprisonment by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8 in Lagos for their involvement in the trafficking and storage of 414.2 kilograms of cannabis sativa. In an official statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the couple was first apprehended on Friday, 13th June 2025 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ojo area of Lagos and subsequently handed over to the NDLEA along with 277.5 kilograms of “skunk,” a potent strain of cannabis.
While the suspects were still in custody undergoing investigation, intelligence indicated that drug-related activity was ongoing at their residence. Acting on this tip, NDLEA operatives raided the couple’s house and a packing store on Tuesday, 1st July, recovering an additional 231 kilograms of the same substance. This brought the total quantity of drugs linked to the couple to 414.2 kilograms.
They were later arraigned in charge number FHC/L/632C/2025 before Justice Dipeolu on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession, dealing, and storage of illicit drugs. Delivering judgment, the court convicted Mrs. Rosemary Uchenna on counts 1, 2, and 3 and sentenced her to 17 years imprisonment without the option of a fine. Her husband, Johnson Ajah Uchenna, was convicted on count 1 and sentenced to five years in prison without an option of a fine, and on count 4, he received an additional six months imprisonment with an option of a ₦1 million fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of ₦3,407,000 recovered from the couple as proceeds of crime to the Federal Government.
In a separate case, a Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda convicted and sentenced a 42-year-old Indian national, Neetu Neetu, to five years imprisonment for attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria. The heroin, packaged in 72 parcels and factory sealed in wafer wraps disguised as chocolates, was intercepted on Friday, 14th March 2025 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). She had arrived aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha. Following her arrest and arraignment in charge number FHC/KN/CR/65/2025, Justice Amobeda sentenced her to 10 years imprisonment on two counts with an option of ₦2 million fine.
Another significant conviction was secured against a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Dajou Abuba, who was arrested on Tuesday, 25th February 2025 at the screening point of the Kano airport while attempting to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo. Abuba had ingested 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms. He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano, who sentenced him to five years imprisonment following his conviction.
In the South-East, the Federal High Court in Enugu convicted another trafficker, Eze Christian Ikenna, for unlawful trafficking and possession of 11.20 kilograms of cocaine. He was arrested on 20th January 2023 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The cocaine was concealed in herbal tea sachets in his luggage. Arraigned in charge number FHC/EN/CS/9/2023 before Justice M.G. Umar, Eze was convicted on two counts and sentenced to three years on each count, to run concurrently, with effect from 20th May 2023, making his total sentence six years.
In a groundbreaking anti-narcotics operation, the NDLEA secured the final forfeiture of a multi-billion Naira 80-room hotel and lounge located in Victoria Island, Lagos, used as a cover for illicit drug distribution. The facility, situated at No. 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Road, was raided between Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April 2025 by NDLEA operatives. After hours of combing the hotel rooms, officers recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a premium grade of cannabis weighing a total of 417.3 kilograms and with a street value of ₦1,042,500,000.
Also forfeited along with the hotel were a fleet of vehicles and equipment used in furthering the drug cartel’s operations. These include a Toyota Sienna (KJA 79 HJ), Volkswagen Delivery Van (AAA 525 JE), KIA Cerato (BDG 860 GQ), Black Land Cruiser Prado (AKD 472 DZ), Red Grand Caravan Dodge (APP 847 YF), White Mazda Bus (KTU 241 AAA), Mercedes Benz Truck (ASB 500 XY), Gold Toyota Corolla (EKY 295 JT), and an ash-coloured Sienna Mini Bus. Additionally, 84 television sets, 70 air conditioners, and 13 brand new refrigerators were also confiscated.
The final forfeiture orders were granted on Friday, 18th July 2025 by Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of the Federal High Court, Lagos, following a motion filed by the NDLEA under suit number FHC/L/MISC/447/2025.
Reacting to the string of convictions and forfeiture rulings, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the dedication and professionalism of NDLEA operatives across all zones involved in the successful investigations and prosecutions. He also commended the judiciary for their swift and decisive rulings, which he said have reinforced the deterrent value of Nigeria’s anti-drug laws.
“Nothing serves the cause of justice more than when criminal elements are given long jail terms and made to forfeit all they have acquired through the proceeds of their illicit drug trade. We’re happy with these judicial pronouncements, which not only encourage our officers to remain steadfast but also strengthen the long-term impact of our drug control efforts across the country,” Marwa stated.
He reiterated that the NDLEA remains committed to dismantling all networks of drug trafficking, intercepting their operations, and ensuring that no criminal enterprise built on drugs survives within the Nigerian landscape. The agency’s recent successes, he said, are proof that “Nigeria’s resolve to crush drug syndicates is total, sustained, and irreversible.”
