Marwa insists swift justice crucial to crushing drug networks

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured the conviction of 974 offenders, including 11 drug kingpins who were sentenced a total of 254 years in prison in the first quarter of 2026.
The agency also increased the arrest, prosecution and asset forfeiture of drug traffickers and their accomplices nationwide.

Of the 974 drug traffickers convicted between January and March, 899 were male and 75 were female.
A further breakdown of the conviction figures shows that 265 were secured in January, 316 in February and 393 in March.
Among the top drug kingpins successfully prosecuted and convicted within the period is a notorious 42-year-old businessman, Adegbite Solomon (a.k.a Obama), based in Italy.

He was arraigned on a 15-count charge before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos in suit number: FHC/L/851C/2025.
On March 18, Justice Kakaki convicted the repeat offender on all counts and sentenced him to a total of 130 years in prison.
The sentence includes various terms for each count, with the judge ordering the revocation of the convict’s pharmacy license, forfeiture of his pharmacy stores and funds in his bank accounts to the Federal Government, among other penalties.

Another top drug kingpin, 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun, was arraigned by NDLEA before Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In her judgment delivered on February 26, 2026, Justice Maha convicted and sentenced Animashaun to 25 years in prison for drug trafficking.
The convict was previously been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment for a similar offence on July 15, 2022, by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, following his arrest by NDLEA along Lagos/Ibadan expressway on March 27, 2022.

Two other convicts, Rauf Asogba, 28, and Seun Olaniyi, 24 were sentenced to 17 years in jail each by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta in Ogun State on January 28, 2026, after NDLEA arrested and charged them to court for trafficking 1,779 kilogrammes of skunk in suit number: FHC/AB/160C/2025.
Another set of two convicts got 15 years imprisonment each.
They are 54-year-old Jonathan Nuhu (a.k.a Doctor) who was convicted by Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano, Kano State on March 17, 2026, following his arraignment by NDLEA in charge: FHC/KN/CR/96/2023, and 40-year-old Idris Yusuf who was sentenced on March 31, 2026, by Justice Fatima Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, Yobe in suit number FHC/CR/6/21, in addition to another eight years sentence for a similar case brought against Yusuf by NDLEA in charge number FHC/CR/DM/16/24.

Other convicts who got seven years imprisonment each for drug trafficking offences in parts of the country include: Godday Obizuo in FHC/AK/64C/2024; Asabe Abubakar in FHC/BAU/CR/16/2026; Godwin Peter, Asuquo Christian and Olabode Sunday in FHC/AD/CR/66/2024.
In response to the convictions, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the judiciary for the swift handling of the cases.
He emphasised that securing 974 convictions in just three months sends a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for drug traffickers.

Marwa commended the officers and personnel of the agency for their bravery and dedication, promising to prioritise their welfare and provide necessary tools to combat criminal syndicates.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, stating that these victories are the result of citizen intelligence that fuels NDLEA operations.