Two notorious drug traffickers, 37-year-old Ajetsibo Emami, popularly known as Warri Kinsman, and 51-year-old Solomon Akpomuai, have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 10 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos. The convictions mark a significant win for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its battle against illicit drug networks.
Emami was apprehended in Ikeja on June 28, 2025, after NDLEA operatives dismantled his sprawling trafficking network during a three-day operation. Intelligence reports revealed his attempt to move a large cannabis consignment to Lekki for redistribution across Lagos and beyond. The raid led to the seizure of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, weighing 414.2 kilograms.
Akpomuai’s arrest followed a separate interception by Customs operatives along the Shagamu–Ijebu-Ode Expressway on June 3, 2025, where 2,197.8 kilograms of skunk cannabis were recovered. He was handed over to the NDLEA for prosecution on June 16. Both men were later arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on separate charges of drug trafficking.
Court Hands Down Sentences with Heavy Fines
Delivering judgment on August 18, 2025, Justice Dipeolu convicted Emami on a one-count charge of dealing in illicit drugs filed by NDLEA prosecutor, Assistant Commander of Narcotics Buhari Shuaibu Abdullahi. He was sentenced to six years in prison with the option of paying a N50 million fine in lieu of jail time.
Similarly, Akpomuai was found guilty on charges of trafficking drugs in large commercial quantities. The trial judge sentenced him to four years imprisonment, also with an option of N50 million fine. The sentences, though relatively moderate compared to the scale of their operations, send a strong signal that the judiciary remains firm in addressing the rising menace of drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Court observers noted that the convictions highlight the increasing collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in ensuring that criminal elements face the weight of the law, while also providing deterrence to others engaged in the illicit trade.
NDLEA’s Expanding Anti-Drug Operations
The arrests and subsequent convictions of Emami and Akpomuai are the latest in a series of high-profile busts by the NDLEA in 2025. The agency has intensified its dual strategy of reducing drug supply while simultaneously addressing demand through nationwide awareness campaigns.
The successful dismantling of Emami’s network followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, pointing to the sophistication of NDLEA’s new operational strategies. The seizure of over 2.6 tonnes of cannabis from both convicts underscores the scale of the drug trafficking problem and the challenges facing the agency.
Officials maintain that the victories are only the beginning of a more aggressive campaign. With increased technology deployment, inter-agency cooperation, and international partnerships, the NDLEA appears determined to shrink the operating space for drug cartels across Nigeria.
Marwa: Convictions Show NDLEA’s Strategy Is Working
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), hailed the convictions as proof that the agency’s balanced approach is yielding tangible results. According to him, the outcome reflects not only improved operational efficiency but also growing public support for the anti-drug war.
Marwa emphasized that Nigeria is making steady progress towards defeating the twin challenges of drug abuse and trafficking. He praised the judiciary, NDLEA operatives, and other stakeholders who played critical roles in the successful prosecutions. “These convictions prove that our strategies of combining drug supply reduction with demand reduction are working. Sooner than later, Nigeria will overcome the scourge of illicit drugs,” he said.
He further reiterated the agency’s commitment to intensifying its clampdown on major suppliers while simultaneously reaching communities with prevention programs to reduce abuse rates among youths.
A Step Forward in the War Against Drugs
The convictions of Emami and Akpomuai serve as both a symbolic and practical milestone in Nigeria’s drug control efforts. Symbolically, they demonstrate that no trafficker is above the law, regardless of notoriety or influence. Practically, the disruption of their operations deals a blow to supply chains that fuel widespread drug abuse in Lagos and other states.
While challenges remain, stakeholders believe the latest successes will embolden security agencies, strengthen judicial resolve, and reinforce public confidence in the ongoing fight. For many Nigerians, the message is clear: the NDLEA is not relenting, and drug kingpins will increasingly find fewer safe havens to operate.
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