Prosecutors secure conviction of a Nigerian national in multi-million narcotics case

A Nigerian national, Okwudili Cletus Onuh, was convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking.

This was in a high-profile narcotics case heard at the Kahawa Law Courts, Nairobi.

The change of plea followed the presentation of overwhelming evidence by the prosecution during the hearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Koech, leading the accused to take responsibility for the charges against him.

Onuh was fined Sh46,500,000 for counts 1, 3, and 4, with a default sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count.

The sentences read out on September 23, 2025 are to run concurrently, taking into account the three years he has already spent in remand.

The sentence was issued after the prosecution and defence made serious submissions during the sentensing hearing.

The case against the second accused, Hamid Annet Njoki Kaur, is scheduled to proceed to hearing on September 29, 2025.

Meanwhile, Malindi Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) detectives, working alongside the Special Operations Group (SOG) based at Sabaki Bridge, seized a Toyota SUV packed to the brim with cannabis.

Acting on crucial leads about a vehicle ferrying the illicit cargo, the officers launched an operation flagging down a silver Toyota Vanguard for inspection at Gede area.

However, the driver chose speed over compliance, swerving off towards Jacaranda Road from Kijiwetanga Junction in a desperate bid to flee.

A pursuit of the vehicle was launched, and hours later, the SUV was discovered abandoned in Mayungu area with its plates hastily swapped in a futile attempt to outsmart investigators.

But the disguise didn’t hold. A peep inside the vehicle, officers uncovered that the SUV is crammed to the roof with 12 bulging sacks of bhang, a consignment worth millions, destined for the streets.

Both the vehicle and the narcotics have since been secured at Malindi Police Station as exhibits, as the trail closes in on the elusive driver.