Couple Gets 22 Years for Drug Trafficking in Lagos As NDLEA Secures Convictions In Kano, Enugu And Final Forfeiture of Multi-Billion Naira Hotel

In a series of sweeping legal victories in its ongoing war against illicit drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured multiple convictions across Lagos, Kano, and Enugu, including the final forfeiture of a multi-billion-naira hotel and assets linked to a major drug cartel.

In Lagos, a businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna, and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, were on Monday, August 4, 2025, sentenced to a combined 22 and a half years imprisonment for drug trafficking. The ruling was delivered by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8 in Lagos.

The couple was arrested on June 13, 2025, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ojo area and handed over to the NDLEA along with 277.5 kilograms of “skunk,” a potent strain of cannabis. Further intelligence led NDLEA operatives to conduct a follow-up raid on July 1 at their home and warehouse, where an additional 231kg of the same substance was discovered, bringing the total quantity to 414.2 kilograms.

They were arraigned in suit number FHC/L/632C/2025 on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, dealing, and storage of illicit drugs. Justice Dipeolu found Rosemary Uchenna guilty on counts 1, 2, and 3, sentencing her to 17 years in prison without an option of fine. Her husband was sentenced to five years without an option of fine on count 1 and six months on count 4, with an option of ?1 million fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of ?3,407,000 recovered from the couple as proceeds of drug trafficking to the Federal Government.

In a separate case in Kano, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court convicted a 42-year-old Indian national, Neetu Neetu, for importing 72 parcels of heroin weighing 11 kilograms. The heroin was concealed in wafer wraps and disguised as chocolates. The illicit consignment was intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on March 14, 2025, during inward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight from Bangkok, Thailand via Vietnam and Doha.

Neetu was arraigned in charge number FHC/KN/CR/65/2025 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on two counts, with an option of ?2 million fine.

Similarly, a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Dajou Abuba, was convicted by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Kano for ingesting 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms. He was arrested on February 25, 2025, at the Kano airport while attempting to board an Egypt Air flight to Istanbul, Turkey, via Cairo. Abuba received a five-year prison sentence for the offence.

In Enugu, Justice M. G. Umar of the Federal High Court sentenced another drug trafficker, Eze Christian Ikenna, to six years imprisonment for unlawful trafficking and possession of 11.20 kilograms of cocaine. The convict was arrested on January 20, 2023, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport after arriving from Brazil with the drug concealed in herbal tea sachets. He was arraigned in charge number FHC/EN/CS/9/2023 and sentenced to three years on each count, to run concurrently from May 20, 2023.

Meanwhile, in a major asset seizure victory, the NDLEA has secured the final forfeiture of an 80-room hotel and lounge located in Victoria Island, Lagos, used as a front for drug distribution. Operatives raided the property on April 25 and 26, 2025, and recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a high-grade cannabis strain, weighing 417.3 kilograms with an estimated street value of ?1.042 billion.

The forfeited property, located at No. 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, was part of a larger asset haul that included:

• Toyota Sienna (KJA 79 HJ)
• Volkswagen Delivery Van (AAA 525 JE)
• KIA Ceranto (BDG 860 GQ)
• Land Cruiser Prado (AKD 472 DZ)
• Grand Caravan Dodge (APP 847 YF)
• Mazda Bus (KTU 241 AAA)
• Mercedes Benz Truck (ASB 500 XY)
• Toyota Corolla (EKY 295 JT)
• Sienna Mini Bus (Ash colour)
• 84 television sets
• 70 air conditioners
• 13 new fridges

Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted the final forfeiture order on July 18, 2025, in response to NDLEA’s application under motion number FHC/L/MISC/447/2025.

Reacting to the series of judgements, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the diligence and professionalism of the agency’s officers and the swift actions of the judiciary.

“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 are happy with these kinds of judicial pronouncements. They not only encourage our men to do more but will have a long-lasting impact on our drug control efforts,” Marwa said.Tuesday, August 5, 2025