NDLEA Secures 10-Year Jail Terms For Drug Kingpins

Two infamous drug lords, 37-year-old Ajetsibo Emami, widely known as “Warri Kinsman,” and 51-year-old Solomon Akpomuai, have been found guilty and sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Emami was apprehended in Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday, June 28, 2025, following a three-day operation by NDLEA operatives that dismantled his drug trafficking syndicate, resulting in the arrest of three additional suspects.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, noting that 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a type of cannabis weighing 414.2 kilograms, were seized from Emami’s network.

The disruption of Emami’s drug operation was prompted by reliable intelligence about his plan to transport the shipment to the Lekki area of Lagos for distribution across the state and nationwide.

He was later charged before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of Federal High Court 8, Lagos, in case number FHC/L/636C/2025 for engaging in illicit drug activities.

In a ruling issued on Monday, August 18, 2025, the trial judge found Emami guilty on the single charge brought by NDLEA prosecutor Assistant Commander of Narcotics Buhari Shuaibu Abdullahi, sentencing him to six years imprisonment with an option of a N50 million fine in lieu of jail time.

In a separate case, Solomon Akpomuai was initially arrested by Customs Service officers along the Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway with 2,197.8 kilograms of skunk, a cannabis strain, on June 3, 2025, and handed over to NDLEA on June 16, after which he was charged in case number FHC/L/635C before Justice Dipeolu for trafficking large quantities of illicit drugs.

In his judgment on the case, the trial judge convicted and sentenced Akpomuai to four years in prison, with an option of a N50 million fine.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), described the convictions of the two drug lords as a sign that Nigeria will soon overcome the challenges of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking due to the success of the agency’s balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand.

He praised the judiciary, NDLEA officers involved in the investigation and prosecution, and other stakeholders for their dedication to achieving a drug-free Nigeria.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli