Two Drug Kingpins Jailed for 10 Years as NDLEA Secures Major Convictions
Two notorious drug kingpins, Ajetsibo Emami, popularly known as Warri Kinsman, and Solomon Akpomuai, have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 10 years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos, in what the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has described as proof that its strategies against illicit drug trafficking are yielding results.
Emami, 37, was arrested in Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday, 28th June 2025, following a three-day operation by NDLEA operatives that successfully dismantled his drug trafficking network. The sting led to the arrest of three other suspects and the recovery of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 414.2 kilograms.
According to NDLEA, the operation was based on credible intelligence that Emami was planning to move the consignment to Lekki for distribution across Lagos and other states. He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/636C/2025, on a one-count charge of dealing in illicit drugs.
Delivering judgment on Monday, 18th August 2025, Justice Dipeolu convicted Emami and sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment, with an option of a N50 million fine in lieu of jail time.
In a separate case, 51-year-old Solomon Akpomuai was first apprehended by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service along the Shagamu–Ijebu-Ode expressway on 3rd June 2025, with a massive haul of 2,197.8 kilograms of skunk, another strain of cannabis. He was later handed over to the NDLEA on 16th June for prosecution.
Akpomuai was arraigned in charge number FHC/L/635C/2025 before Justice Dipeolu for trafficking in large commercial quantities of illicit drugs. In his ruling, the trial judge sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment, also with an option of a N50 million fine.
Reacting to the convictions, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), hailed the judiciary, NDLEA officers involved in the investigations and prosecutions, as well as partner agencies, for their dedication to the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
“The conviction of these two drug kingpins is an indication that Nigeria will, sooner than later, overcome the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking,” Marwa said. “The positive outcomes we are seeing are the results of our balanced strategy of drug supply reduction and demand reduction.”
Marwa stressed that the Agency remained committed to ridding Nigeria of illicit drugs and ensuring the nation’s youth are shielded from the dangers of substance abuse.
The convictions mark yet another major milestone in NDLEA’s ongoing crackdown on drug cartels and traffickers operating across the country.
