Nigeria, Jan. 31 -- Sitting on the bare floor, his hands resting on his knees, he pushed his back against the wall of the Ikeja police headquarters in Lagos.

It was a rainy day in September 2023.

A silvery bracelet secured his wrists in proximity to each other. His legs were bound. He had been arrested, again. This time for alleged murder. If found guilty, this would make his fourth entry into the prison.

Fred Okunu, 43, wanted quick wealth, so he took a shortcut in 2010. He was only 30 when he was caught at an airport in Thailand with illicit drugs valued at N60 million.

His dream of becoming a millionaire was cut short by the Thailand law enforcement authorities. If he had succeeded in the illegal operation, he would have pocketed N...