Two well-known drug kingpins, Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian and Agbo Chidike Prince, have been handed life sentences by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. This marks the end of their extensive criminal activities in exporting cocaine across various regions.
Uwaezuoke’s criminal journey leading to a lifetime in jail began with his initial arrest on March 19, 2022, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He had ingested 100 large wraps of cocaine, weighing 2.243 kilograms, during the inward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Following his arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022, and being granted bail under certain conditions after pleading not guilty, Uwaezuoke absconded, prompting the court to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant.
After being rearrested by NDLEA operatives on 1st August 2023 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Uwaezuoke faced additional charges for attempting to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India using a different identity. He was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, on charge number FHC/L/554C/2023, and eventually sentenced to seven years in prison or a fine of ₦1,500,000.00.
He paid the fine, was transferred to Abuja to face another importation case against him, and was re-arraigned before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on 20th March 2024, where he pleaded guilty again.
Despite his plea, Uwaezuoke was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment due to his lack of remorse, the gravity of drug-related crimes, and his status as a repeat offender.
As for 42-year-old Agbo Chidike Prince, he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while trying to export 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73 grams to Hong Kong.
Upon pleading guilty before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, Agbo was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on April 15, 2024.
In a separate incident, NDLEA officers apprehended Yahaya Danjuma Oturah at the Lagos airport as he attempted to transport 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg to Malpensa, Italy. The psychoactive substances were concealed in women’s clothing and bags containing food items, with Oturah admitting to couriering the drugs for a fee.
In Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives arrested Jennifer Iliya for producing and distributing cakes laced with illicit drugs, predominantly cannabis sativa. Another arrest involved Josephine Odunu, a 20-year-old hair stylist, and Edesemi Ikporo, a 30-year-old dispatch rider, for a similar offense.
Several other individuals were also apprehended in various locations for drug-related activities, including the distribution of pentazocine injection and cannabis substances.
NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the diligent prosecution of cases involving Uwazuoke and Agbo, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and the significant role of its officers and commands across the country.