NDLEA Secures 95-Year Sentence for Four Drug Kingpins

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured a total of 95-years in prison for four convicted drug kingpins including Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi, Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (also known as Don), and Zidon Zurga, for trafficking cocaine and high-potency cannabis (skunk) worth over ₦4.6 billion.

The sentences were handed down by the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Yola, Adamawa State following separate convictions.

NDLEA operatives arrested Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on September 18, 2024, during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers arriving from Addis Ababa. He was found importing 817 wraps of cocaine, weighing 19.40 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N4.65 billion.

This Ogbuji’s second arrest in just 16 months. His first arrest occurred on May 10, 2023, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, after arriving from Uganda via Addis Ababa. At the time, he had ingested 93 pallets of cocaine, weighing 1.986kg.

He was convicted on July 13, 2023, by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja (Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023), and sentenced to two years imprisonment or a  N3 million fine, which he paid to secure his release.

Undeterred, Ogbuji was re-arrested at Lagos Airport on September 18, 2024, with a larger cocaine consignment. He was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos (Charge No: FHC/L/845C) on January 16, 2025 and sentenced on February 28, 2025 to:

Five years imprisonment on Count One, with an option of a N7 million fine

A total of 15 years imprisonment if the fine is not paid

The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits and other items found on him at the time of his arrest.

Iloduba Augustine Chinonye, 51, was arrested on December 31, 2021, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 58 wraps of cocaine. While in transit in Addis Ababa, he excreted 48 wraps and expelled the remaining 10 while in NDLEA custody after his arrest on January 1, 2022.

He was arraigned before Justice Folashade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu (Charge No: FHC/EN/CR/18/2022). After three years of diligent prosecution, Iloduba was convicted and sentenced on March 5, 2025, to:

Five years imprisonment on each count, totaling 10 years in jail, to run concurrently from the date of his conviction.

Shuaibu Nuhu Isa aka Don(55) and Zidon Zurga (50) were arrested on November 25, 2024, along the Numan-Yola Road, Adamawa State, while transporting 500.8kg of skunk concealed in a toyota Hilux (Lagos NT 829 AAA) and a Prado SUV with fake Presidency number plate (01B-266 FG).

They were arraigned before Justice Bala Usman of the Federal High Court, Yola (Charge No: FHC/YL/150/2024) and convicted on February 7, 2025. Each received:

35 years imprisonment on two counts, totaling 70 years combined

An alternative fine of N25 million each

The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of both vehicles used for drug trafficking.

Reacting to the convictions, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the trial courts and the investigative teams at MMIA, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, and Adamawa State Commands for their professionalism and dedication.

“The convictions and the forfeiture of the convicts’ instruments of crime will further strengthen the deterrent effect of our ongoing efforts to completely dismantle drug networks in Nigeria,” Marwa stated.

The NDLEA remains committed to its mission of ridding the nation of illicit drugs and bringing offenders to justice.