The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has recorded 974 convictions for drug-related offences in the first three months of 2026, including the successful prosecution of 11 high-profile trafficking kingpins who collectively received 254 years in prison sentences, in what the agency described as its most concentrated enforcement push to date.
Monthly conviction figures showed a consistent upward trend, with 265 convictions recorded in January, 316 in February, and 393 in March, reflecting intensifying judicial activity and operational pressure on trafficking networks. Of the total convicted, 899 were men and 75 were women.
The most prominent conviction in the quarter involved Italy-based businessman Adegbite Solomon, also known as “Obama,” who was sentenced by the Federal High Court in Lagos to a cumulative 130 years in prison following a guilty verdict on a 15-count charge. The court additionally ordered the revocation of his pharmacy licence, the forfeiture of two pharmacy outlets, and the seizure of funds held in multiple bank accounts to the federal government.
In Ibadan, 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun received a 25-year sentence from the Federal High Court in Oyo State. Animashaun had previously been convicted for a drug-related offence in 2022, making him a repeat offender. Two additional traffickers, Rauf Asogba and Seun Olaniyi, were each sentenced to 17 years by the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after being found guilty of trafficking 1,779 kilograms of cannabis. Jonathan Nuhu, known as “Doctor,” received 15 years in Kano, while Idris Yusuf received a 15-year term in Damaturu, Yobe State, along with an additional eight-year sentence from a related case.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa described the outcomes as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s campaign against illicit drugs, sending an unambiguous message to cartels and traffickers that the era of impunity was over.
“Securing 974 convictions in just three months reflects the determination of our officers and the declining tolerance of the Nigerian state for drug merchants. The combined 254-year sentences handed to these kingpins show clearly that impunity in the drug trade is no longer sustainable,” Marwa said.
He commended the judiciary for the speed and decisiveness of its adjudication of drug cases and called on Nigerians to continue supporting the agency through the provision of credible intelligence, describing community cooperation as vital to dismantling the networks that sustain drug trafficking in the country.
