No fewer than 974 drug offenders were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms between January and March 2026, as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified its crackdown on traffickers and their collaborators nationwide.
Among those convicted are 11 major drug kingpins who bagged a combined 254 years’ imprisonment, in what the agency described as a major milestone in the war against illicit drugs.
A breakdown of the convictions shows that 899 of the offenders are male, while 75 are female. Month-by-month analysis indicates that 265 convictions were secured in January, 316 in February, and 393 in March.
One of the high-profile convictions involved a 42-year-old Italy-based businessman, Adegbite Solomon, also known as “Obama,” who was arraigned on a 15-count charge before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Delivering judgment on March 18, 2026, Justice Musa Kakaki found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to a cumulative 130 years in prison.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
Read Also:
- 93-year-old, doctor nabbed in NDLEA drug crackdown
- NDLEA uncovers cocaine in palm kernel oil cans, nabs kingpin in Lagos
- NDLEA apprehends major drug distributor, seals pharmacy, seizes opioids worth millions
The court handed him 15 years each on counts one to six, 10 years on count seven, four years each on counts eight to twelve, and 10 years on count 15.
Justice Kakaki also ordered the revocation of his pharmacy licence, forfeiture of two branches of his pharmacy business, and the seizure of funds in three bank accounts to the Federal Government.
Similarly, Ridwan Animashaun, 32, was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on February 26, 2026, for drug trafficking offences.
Animashaun, a repeat offender, had earlier been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment in July 2022 after his arrest along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In Ogun State, two convicts, Rauf Asogba, 28, and Seun Olaniyi, 24, were each sentenced to 17 years in prison by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on January 28, 2026, following their involvement in trafficking 1,779 kilograms of skunk.
Also, 54-year-old Jonathan Nuhu, alias “Doctor,” was convicted by Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano, on March 17, 2026, and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Another offender, Idris Yusuf, 40, was sentenced on March 31, 2026, by Justice Fatima Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, Yobe State, to 15 years imprisonment, in addition to another eight-year sentence in a separate case.
Other convicts handed seven-year jail terms include Godday Obizuo, Asabe Abubakar, Godwin Peter, Asuquo Christian, and Olabode Sunday, who were prosecuted in different parts of the country.
Reacting, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer,. Mohamed Marwa, described the convictions as a watershed in Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign.
He said the development sends a strong signal that the country is no longer a safe haven for drug traffickers.
“Securing 974 convictions in just three months is a testament to the relentless spirit of our officers and the thinning patience of the Nigerian state toward drug merchants,” he said.
“To the 11 kingpins who thought they were untouchable, their 254-year collective residency in correctional centres is a firm reminder that the long arm of the law has finally caught up with their greed.”
Marwa commended the judiciary for speedy trials, noting that swift justice remains a critical deterrent against drug-related crimes.
He also praised officers and personnel of the agency for their commitment and bravery, assuring them of continued support.
The NDLEA boss urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to provide useful intelligence to support ongoing operations, stressing that the successes recorded were made possible through public cooperation.
