A Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, has handed down a combined 93-year prison sentence to a physically-challenged woman, Rita Idehen, and six others over various drug-related crimes.
The convictions were secured in July across seven separate cases—six overseen by Justice Professor Chuka Obiozor and one by Justice J.B.O. Quadri.
According to the Edo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mitchell Ofoyeju, a total of 15 dr¥g-related cases were filed in the month, with seven resulting in successful convictions involving five men and two women. He added that 113 other cases remain pending as of July 31, 2025.
Ofoyeju stressed that disability does not exempt anyone from the law, noting:
“These convictions send a strong message, being physically challenged is not a shield for committing strict liability offences like dr¥g tr@fficking. Anyone involved in such crimes should be prepared to face the consequences.”
He also called for collective support in the NDLEA’s fight against dr¥g crimes, led by Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), adding that tough court rulings play a critical role in deterring offenders and protecting society.
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