Court jails couple for 22 years over drug trafficking in Lagos

Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday sentenced a businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna, and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, to a total of 22 and a half years’ imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs.

The couple was first arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ojo area of the state and subsequently transferred to the NDLEA, along with 277.5kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

A statement released on Tuesday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, revealed that while the couple was still under investigation, credible intelligence indicated that their drug business was continuing at their residence. This prompted a raid on their home and storage facility, during which NDLEA operatives recovered an additional 231kg of the same substance on July 1.

They were subsequently arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, dealing, and possession of 414.2 kilograms of cannabis sativa, in charge number FHC/L/632C/2025.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Dipeolu convicted 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 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine on count 1 and six months’ imprisonment on count 4, with an option of a ₦1 million fine.

In addition to the custodial sentences, the judge ordered that ₦3,407,000 recovered from the couple as proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Similarly, a Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, convicted and sentenced a 42-year-old Indian woman, Neetu Neetu, to five years’ imprisonment for importing 72 parcels of heroin, factory-sealed in wafer wraps and disguised as chocolates. The drugs, weighing 11 kilograms, were smuggled into Nigeria through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on March 14, 2025.

The consignment was discovered in Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search, based on credible intelligence, during inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand via Vietnam and Doha.

She was arraigned in charge number FHC/KN/CR/65/2025 before Justice Amobeda, who sentenced her to 10 years’ imprisonment on two counts, with an option of a ₦2 million fine.

In a related case, a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Dajou Abuba, was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Kano. Abuba had been arrested and charged by the NDLEA for ingesting 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms.

He was arrested on February 25, 2025, at the screening point of the Kano airport while attempting to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey, via Cairo.

Also, a Federal High Court in Enugu convicted another drug trafficker, Eze Christian Ikenna, on two counts of unlawful trafficking and possession of 11.20 kilograms of cocaine. The charges were filed in charge number FHC/EN/CS/9/2023.

Eze was arrested on January 20, 2023, by NDLEA operatives at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The cocaine was concealed in herbal tea sachets. He was arraigned before Justice M. G. Umar of the Federal High Court, Enugu, who sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, starting from May 20, 2023.

In another major breakthrough in its ongoing war against illicit drug trafficking, the NDLEA has secured the final forfeiture of an 80-room hotel and lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos, linked to a drug trafficking cartel, along with other assets.

ALSO READ: Murder probe launched after 45-year-old man shot dead in North London

The hotel, used as a cover for distributing illicit drugs, was raided by NDLEA operatives between April 25 and 26, 2025. After hours of searching, they recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 417.3 kilograms, with a street value of ₦1,042,500,000.

The forfeited property, located at No. 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, also included several vehicles and assets:

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)

Ash Sienna Minibus

84 television sets

70 air conditioners

13 new fridges

Final forfeiture orders were issued on July 18, 2025, by Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala, following motion number FHC/L/MISC/447/2025 filed by the NDLEA.

Reacting to the convictions and forfeiture orders, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), praised the various commands, officers, and the judiciary for delivering prompt judgments.

“Nothing serves the cause of justice better than ensuring that criminal elements receive long jail terms and forfeit all they have acquired through the proceeds of their illicit drug trade. We are pleased with these judicial pronouncements, which not only encourage our operatives to do more but also have a lasting impact on our national drug control efforts,” Marwa stated.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE