By Esther Onyegbula

For 65-year-old businessman, Mr. Nnamdi Peter Okafor, every sunrise inside an Ethiopian prison cell is another reminder of a life abruptly interrupted.

Once a thriving logistics operator and Managing Director of Afroasian Medic and Miles Logistics Ventures, Okafor now spends his days thousands of kilometres away from home, with a failing health condition while awaiting the outcome of a drug trafficking case that fresh investigative findings in Nigeria appear to suggest he knew nothing about.

His story is one of a businessman caught in what advocates describe as a web of deception, a family trapped in anguish, and a growing campaign for justice that is rapidly taking on humanitarian dimensions.

Okafor was arrested on March 17, 2026, at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport after Ethiopian authorities allegedly discovered 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside food items contained in luggage linked to him.

The allegation carried grave consequences. If convicted, he could face up to 12 years imprisonment.

But while the arrest initially painted a picture of international drug trafficking, developments that unfolded in Nigeria barely 24 hours later have raised serious questions about whether the businessman was in fact an unwitting victim.

According to the Advocates for Global Peace Forum International (AGPFI), Okafor had been handling a shipment entrusted to him through his logistics business when he was arrested.

The organisation said the businessman had consistently maintained from the outset that he had no knowledge of the illicit contents allegedly concealed inside the consignment.

What followed in Lagos, AGPFI noted, appears to lend weight to his claims.
Following his arrest in Ethiopia, a staff member of his company reportedly contacted the original client linked to the shipment.

Mastermind nabbed

The client subsequently arranged another consignment through the same channel.

Acting on intelligence, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, working alongside the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, allegedly laid an ambush.

When the suspect delivered the packages in Lagos, he was arrested.

Investigators reportedly discovered cocaine concealed inside a stockfish head using the same method allegedly employed in the shipment that led to the Okafor’s arrest in Ethiopia.

According to AGPFI, the suspect admitted ownership of the bags and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

The organisation believes the findings strongly support Okafor’s insistence that he was unknowingly used as a courier by criminal elements.

“What makes this case particularly compelling is that subsequent investigations reportedly uncovered evidence indicating that Mr. Okafor may have been an innocent victim rather than a participant in any criminal enterprise,” the group said.

Family tragedy

Beyond the legal arguments lies a deeply personal tragedy. For Okafor’s family, each day of detention brings fresh uncertainty.

The businessman, who is already battling multiple health challenges, has reportedly seen his condition worsen while in custody.

According to AGPFI, his continued incarceration has placed enormous emotional, financial and psychological strain on his loved ones.

His business operations have suffered disruption, income streams have dwindled, and family members are left anxiously awaiting news from a foreign judicial system.

What began as a criminal investigation has now evolved into a humanitarian concern.

Family members and associates fear that his failing health condition coupled with what they describe as inadequate medical attention, could have devastating consequences if urgent action is not taken.

Addressing journalists during a media briefing in Lagos, the Secretary-General of AGPFI, Ngozi Maureen Ani, urged Ethiopian authorities and Nigerian diplomatic missions to review the case in light of the findings emerging from Nigeria.

“Mr. Okafor is at risk of being jailed for up to 12 years for a crime he had no knowledge of,” Ani said.

“He was exploited by criminal elements who manipulated his legitimate business activities. His prolonged incarceration has caused immense emotional, financial and psychological suffering.”

Ani appealed to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Addis Ababa and relevant government agencies to intensify diplomatic engagements aimed at ensuring that all available evidence is presented before Ethiopian authorities.

“Justice must be fair and humane,” she said. “We urge the relevant authorities to facilitate a thorough review of the case and ensure Mr. Okafor’s immediate release.”

The organisation further stressed that while it remains committed to the global fight against narcotics trafficking, innocent individuals must not become casualties of criminal networks that exploit legitimate businesses for illegal operations.

“The evidence presently available strongly suggests that Mr. Okafor was not a willing participant in any criminal enterprise but rather a victim of deception perpetrated by those who have since been identified through investigative efforts,” AGPFI stated.

NDLEA weighs in

In a development that has provided some reassurance to the family, the NDLEA confirmed it is actively involved in efforts surrounding the case.

Speaking in an interview, the Deputy Commander, NACO Airport Command, Chidi Ndukwu, said the agency was fully aware of the incident and was working towards securing justice.

“NDLEA is aware of the incident and all hands are on deck to ensure the release of Mr. Okafor Peter who is innocent,” Ndukwu said.

“Meanwhile, the principal suspect has been arrested in Lagos, Nigeria. We are in touch with the family of Mr. Okafor Peter here in Nigeria and they are happy with what NDLEA is doing as well as what Advocates for Global Peace Forum International is doing,” Ndukwu said.

A warning for logistics operators

The case has also exposed the growing risks faced by operators in Nigeria’s logistics and transport sector.

According to AGPFI, drug trafficking syndicates increasingly target unsuspecting courier services and legitimate business operators to move illicit substances across international borders.

The organisation urged logistics personnel to thoroughly inspect consignments, verify the identities of customers and immediately report suspicious shipments to law enforcement agencies.

For now, however, the focus remains on one man sitting in a prison cell far from home. As diplomatic efforts continue and calls for a review of the case grow louder, Okafor’s family clings to hope that the evidence emerging from Nigeria will ultimately help secure his freedom.

Until then, the 65-year-old businessman remains caught between two countries, a failing health condition and a legal battle that supporters insist should never have become his burden to bear.