Their conviction an indication NDLEA strategies are working, says Marwa
Two notorious drug kingpins: 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 imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Emami was arrested in Ikeja Lagos on Saturday 28th June 2025 after NDLEA operatives
dismantled his drug trafficking network in a three-day operation leading to the arrest of three
other suspects. Recovered from Emami’s network were 24 jumbo bags containing 681
pouches of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 414.2 kilograms.
The bust of Emami’s drug ring followed credible intelligence on his attempt to move the
shipment to Lekki area of Lagos, from where it will be distributed to other parts of the state
and across the country.
He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8
Lagos in charge number FHC/L/636C/2025 bordering on dealing in illicit drugs.
In his ruling
delivered on Monday 18th August 2025, the trial judge convicted Emami on the one count
charge filed against him by NDLEA prosecutor Assistant Commander of Narcotics Buhari
Shuaibu Abdullahi and sentenced him to six years in prison with an option of N50million in
lieu of jail.
In his case, Solomon Akpomuai was first arrested by men of Customs Service along
Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway with 2,197.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis on 3rd
June 2025 and transferred to NDLEA on 16th June after which he was arraigned in charge
number FHC/L/635C before Justice Dipeolu for trafficking illicit drugs in large commercial
quantity.
Also delivering his judgement on the matter, the trial judge convicted and sentenced
Akpomuai to four years in prison with an option of N50million fine.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA,
Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd)
described the conviction of the two drug kingpins as an indication that Nigeria will sooner
than later surmount the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a result of the
positive outcomes of the current balanced approach to the Agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
He commended the judiciary, NDLEA officers involved
in the investigation and prosecution of the cases as well as other stakeholders for their
commitment to the cause of a drug free country
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Tuesday 19th August 2025
