No fewer than four hundred and seventy-five persons have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms between September and November.

According to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the convictions followed charges filed against the traffickers by the agency at various Federal High Courts across the country.

Its Media and Advocacy Director, Femi Babafemi said the figure represented a portion of the over one thousand traffickers that were jailed between January and November for drug offences.

He said a total of seventy-three persons were convicted, with Jigawa recording the highest figure of fifteen convicts, followed by Adamawa-fourteen and FCT-eleven in September.

According to him, Jigawa also topped the chart of the one hundred and fifty convictions recorded by the agency in October with fourteen convicts, followed by Niger-thirteen; Katsina-twelve; Taraba-eleven and Lagos-eleven.

“Adamawa and Abia states had the highest conviction figure in November with 23 each out of a total of 252 convictions recorded by the anti-narcotic agency in the past month, while FCT had 21 and Plateau- 14.

“Interesting highlights of some of the cases include that of 32-year-old Chukwuemeka Orji who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour on 13th October by Justice E.N. Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia state.

“The sentence makes it the third time Orji will be convicted and jailed for drug offences.

“He was first sentenced to eight months in prison on 15th December 2017 by Justice Anyadike, and jailed for three years on 13th Dec, 2020 by Justice D.E. Osiagor,” he said.

“In a similar case, 58-year-old Obi Ajah was also convicted and sentenced to five calendar years imprisonment with hard labour on 13th October by Justice Anyadike.

“The convict is a second time offender, having been convicted on 29th November, 2012 by Justice J.A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, ” he added.

Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, as commending the various state commands and Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services of the agency for their commitment.

He also commended the diligent prosecution of the cases, saying it would strengthen the deterrence effect of the work of the Agency.