The Alleged Drug Lord, Ogbonnaya Jeff Kelvin, When He Was Arrested After 17 Years Of Hunting For Him
Justice Musa Kakaki of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has adjourned further hearing in the trial of an alleged drug lord, Ogbonnaya Jeff Kevin, has been fixed for May 14, 2026.
Justice Kakaki fixed the date, after admitting bail to the defendant, who has been in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) for over seven months, to bail after taken arguments on a new bail application.
Ruling on the bail application of the alleged drug lord, Justice Kakaki admitted him to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge further ordered that the sureties who must be residents with the Lagos State, shall submit evidence of landed properties within Lagos State and that the properties are to be verified by the Lagos State Lands Registry by the court’s registrar and the prosecution.
The judge further ruled that: “the sureties shall provide valid means of identification such, as the international passport, drivers license or National ID which have not expired. The sureties shall submit evidence of payment of their tax to the Lagos state government in the last three years.
“The sureties shall submit details of their BVN and NIN which shall be verified by the registry and the prosecution. And the defendant shall also submit details of his international passport with the court pending the determination of the case.
“The sureties shall also submit two recent passport photograph and provide traceable residential address to be verified by the registry of the court. And due to the weight of charge, the defendant shall be watch listed by all law enforcement and safety agencies”, Justice Kakaki ruled.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to May 14, for further trial.
The defendant, ogbonnaya Jeff Kevin, was first arraigned before the court sometimes in July 2025, on a five count-charges of conspiracy, and and being the arrowhead of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO).
Upon his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, but he was remanded in the NCos’ facility following the dismissal of his bail application.
However, midway to his trial, his new lawyer, Lanre Ajanaku, filed another bail application and the application was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, who equally filed a counter-affidavit to the bail application.
The NDLEA in a charge marked FHC/L/366c/2024, accused the alleged drug baron of sponsoring a South African woman, Pleters Santa Elizabeth, to snuggle 2 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, to south Korea, December 24, 2023.
He was also alleged to have sponsored the duo of Chisom (currently serving jail-term in South Korea) and one Kelly (now at large), to dealt in various quantities of banned substance called Methamphetamine.
He was also alleged to have procured one Victor, who also bears John Haze, Robert Jackson, Frank Carlos, Breeze Mankal and Johan Stephane, currently on wanted list of Interpol, to smuggle 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico to South Korea in April 23, 2024.
The defendant, during his arrest on February 12, 2024, at his residence, 3. Ibukunoluwa Talwo Street, Agric Estate, off LASU/Idimu Road, Isheri Olofin, Lagos State, unlawfully possessed 15 grams of Loud.
The alleged offences according to the prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, are contrary to section 14 (b) and 11 (d) and of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Charges against the defendant reads: “That you Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff a.k.a. ‘Big Boss’ ‘Kingsley’ ‘Padok’ male, adult being the Head of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), being a person on INTERPOL Wanted Red list No. A-1419/2.2024 on or about the 24th December 2023 conspired with one Pleters Santa Elizabeth, a South African arrested at the Passenger Terminal 1 of the Incheon International Airport South Korea to transport 2 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under International Control into South Korea and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff a.k.a. ‘Big Boss’ ‘Kingsley’ ‘Padok’, being the Head of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), being a person on INTERPOL Wanted Red list No. A-1419/2-2024 with one ‘Victor’, ‘John Haze’, ‘Robert Jackson’, ‘Frank Carlos’ and ‘Breeze Mankal Johan Stephane male, adults, on or about the 23rd April 2024 conspired among yourself to import 3 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under International Control from Mexico to South Korea and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff a.k.a. ‘Big Boss’ ‘Kingsley’ ‘Padok’ male, adult being the Head of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), being a person on INTERPOL Wanted Red list No. A-1419/2-2024 on or about the 30th December 2023 conspired with one ‘Asa’ and Okori Emmanuel, a Nigerian to deal in 2 Kilograms of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under International Control into South Korea and you thereby committed an act which [s an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff a.k.a, ‘Big Boss’ ‘Kingsley’ ‘Padok’ male, adult being the Head of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), being a person on INTERPOL Wanted Red list No. A-1419/2-2024 sometime in the year 2023 conspired with one ‘Chisom’ now serving sentence of imprisonment in South Korea and Kelly (now at large), both Nigerians, to deaf in various quantities of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under International Control and Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin in South Korea and you thereby committed an act which Is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, male, adult of No. 3. Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Street, Agric Estate, off LASU/Idimu Road, Isheri Olofin, Lagos State on or about the 12th February 2025 at the said address without lawful authority knowingly possessed 15 grams of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as ‘Loud’, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an act which Is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
