Two Nigerian drug lords found guilty of cocaine trafficking, sentenced to life imprisonment

Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian and Agbo Chidike Prince, two Nigerian drug lords have been sent to live imprisonment for exporting cocaine across continents.

Their conviction and sentencing follows their arrest and diligent prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

For 43-year-old Uwaezuoke’s journey to the jail began when he was first arrested by NDLEA operatives on March 19, 2022 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He was arrested during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after he was found to have ingested 100 big wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms.

He was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja and was granted bail after he pleaded not guilty.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said Uwaezuoke thereafter absconded, leading the court to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant against him.

Babafemi added, “In a curious twist, Uwaezuoke was again arrested by NDLEA operatives on 1st August 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to export 1.822 kilogrammes of cocaine to India through ingestion using a different passport and under a different name, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi.

He was again arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

“He pleaded guilty to the two counts charge and was convicted and sentenced on 18th October 2023 to a total term of seven years of imprisonment or a fine of ₦1, 500,000.00. He paid the fine and was transferred to Abuja to face the case pending against him.

“He was re-arraigned on March 20, 2024 at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik, where he pleaded guilty again. Despite his plea, the court, noting his lack of remorse, the seriousness of drug-related offences and the fact that he is a repeated offender, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment.”

The second convict, Agbo Chidike Prince, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Hong Kong on October 21 2023 for ingesting 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73grams.

Upon his arraignment before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, the defendant pleaded guilty to the one count, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and review the facts of the case.

“Despite the plea of allocutus by the defendant’s counsel, the court, noting the nature of the case and the commercial quantity of the drug, emphasized the seriousness of drug-related offences, convicted and sentenced the defendant on 15th April, 2024 to life imprisonment,” Babafemi added.