The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a businessman, Johnson Uchenna, and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, to a combined 22-and-a-half years in prison for drug trafficking, following a series of raids that uncovered over 400 kilograms of cannabis at their residence and storage facility in Ojo, Lagos.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed on Tuesday that the couple was arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services and handed over to the agency alongside 277.5kg of cannabis, popularly known as skunk.
Further investigation and a follow-up raid on July 1 led NDLEA operatives to seize an additional 231kg of the same substance, bringing the total weight to 414.2kg.
The couple was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, and dealing in cannabis.
Delivering judgment in suit number FHC/L/632C/2025, Justice Deinde Dipeolu sentenced Mrs. Uchenna to 17 years in prison without an option of fine on three counts.
Her husband, Johnson, was handed a total of five and a half years on two counts, with an option of N1 million fine on one count.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of N3.4 million recovered from the couple to the Federal Government.
In a separate case in Kano, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court sentenced a 42-year-old Indian woman, Neetu Neetu, to five years imprisonment for smuggling heroin into Nigeria.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the convict was arrested at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on March 14 after 11 kilograms of heroin disguised as chocolates were discovered in her luggage aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok.
Neetu was convicted on two counts and given the option of a N2 million fine.
Similarly, another Federal High Court in Kano convicted and sentenced a 42-year-old Angolan national, Mbala Abuba, to five years in prison for ingesting 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829kg.
He was apprehended at the airport while attempting to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
In Enugu, Justice M. G. Umar of the Federal High Court sentenced Eze Ikenna to six years in prison for trafficking 11.2kg of cocaine.
Ikenna was arrested on January 20, 2023, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport after arriving from Brazil with the drugs concealed in herbal tea packs.
Reacting to the series of convictions, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), praised the agency’s operatives across various commands for their commitment and professionalism in tackling drug trafficking.
“These convictions reflect the agency’s resolve to rid the country of hard drugs and dismantle the criminal networks fueling drug abuse,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA continues to ramp up its operations across the country amid growing concerns about drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
