A Lagos Federal High Court on Monday, 4 August 2025, sentenced businessman Ajah Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary, to a total of 22.5 years in prison for drug trafficking offences.
According to the Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday, the couple were first arrested by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives on 13 June in the Ojo area with 277.5kg of skunk, a cannabis strain, and handed over to NDLEA.
A further raid on 1 July uncovered another 231kg of the same substance in their home and warehouse, following intelligence that the illegal business continued while in custody.
Tried under charge number FHC/L/632C/2025, Justice Deinde Dipeolu sentenced Rosemary to 17-year without option of fine, while Johnson received five years on count one and six months on count four, with an option of N1 million fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of N3.4 million recovered from them to the Federal Government.
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In Kano, Justice Simon Amobeda jailed 42-year-old Indian national, Neetu Neetu, for 10-year or a N2 million fine, for importing 11kg of heroin disguised as chocolates through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Details revealed that the 42-year-old Indian national arrived on 14 March via Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, with a stop in Vietnam and Doha.
Also in Kano, Angolan national Mbala Abuba, 42, was sentenced to five-year by Justice Mohammed Yunusa for ingesting 120 cocaine pellets (1.829kg) in a failed attempt to board an Egypt Air flight to Istanbul on 25 February.
In Enugu, Justice M.G. Umar sentenced Eze Ikenna to six years imprisonment (three years per count, running concurrently) for trafficking 11.2kg of cocaine concealed in herbal tea sachets.
He was arrested at Akanu Ibiam Airport on 20 January 2023 after arriving from Brazil via Ethiopia.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA secured final forfeiture of an 80-room hotel and lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos, linked to a drug syndicate.
The property was raided on 25 and 26 April, during which 417.3kg of Canadian Loud, a high-grade cannabis strain valued at N1.04 billion, was seized.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the property and several vehicles, including a Land Cruiser Prado, Toyota Sienna, Volkswagen Van, and other valuables such as 84 TVs, 70 air conditioners, and 13 fridges. Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala granted the order on 18th July under motion number FHC/L/MISC/447/2025.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), praised the judiciary and agency officers for swift prosecutions.
“Nothing serves the cause of justice more than when the criminal elements are given long jail terms and made to forfeit all they have acquired through the proceeds of their illicit drug trade,” the statement added.
