NEWS
NDLEA Nabs Saudi-bound Widow With Cocaine In Footwears At Lagos Airport
Mrs. Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a 56-year-old widow and mother of four, was apprehended by agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 400 grams of cocaine hidden in her shoes to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, November 13, the suspect was detained as she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight bound for Saudi Arabia via Doha. The suspect, who makes the claim to be a businesswoman trading in adult and children’s clothing on Lagos Island, was apprehended. Two parcels of cocaine totaling 400 grams were discovered after a close inspection of the sandals she was wearing.
Ayoade Kehinde Tayo, a vendor of tricycle parts, attempted to send 1 kg of Tramadol 225mg and Rohypnol to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo on an Egypt Airline aircraft the same day, but his efforts were thwarted when NDLEA agents detained him. He was at the airport to give Idowu Ayoade, an intended passenger, the drugs that were concealed inside a bag of groceries, but he was detained before he could do so.
Agbamuche Bright Nkeonye, a man planning to travel to Oman on Asky Airlines, and Adeoye Oluwakemi Fatimo, a woman with him, were detained at the airport’s departure hall after they presented a bag containing a variety of foods and body lotion that were used to conceal 1.10kg of marijuana and some Rohypnol capsules.
Agbamuche Bright Nkeonye, an intended traveler to Oman on Asky Airlines, and a woman, Adeoye Oluwakemi Fatimo, who was with him, were detained on Thursday, November 18 at the Lagos airport’s departure hall.
On November 17, anti-drug officers stationed at the airport’s SAHCO export shed successfully thwarted attempts by traffickers to hide cannabis and ecstasy tablets in three tubers of yam headed for Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Inegbu Ugochi Akunna, the freight agent who had offered the yams for shipment, was soon detained, and the consignor Ahmodu Sulaimon was detained as well.
NDLEA agents, working in tandem with Customs, stopped cartons of dangerous drinks in a container with the marking APZU3671697 at the Brawal container shed at the Kirikiri lighter terminal in Lagos.
Despite the fact that the container’s bill of lading stated that it was from Cape Town, South Africa, a review of the shippers’ database revealed that it was actually loaded from Antwerp, Belgium.
On Thursday, November 18th, a thorough check of the container revealed the presence of three cartons of cannabis energy drink and five cartons of beverages branded as Euphoria cannabis beer. Among the other beverages in the container are 139 cartons of champagne fruit, 20 cartons of dead man’s finger, and 21 cartons of a beverage known as monkey shoulder.
In a related development, courier companies in Lagos seized at least 5.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and tramadol hidden inside items like play stations, bicycles, motor propellers, and local fabrics intended for export to Australia and Cyprus. In a follow-up operation connected to one of the seizures, two suspects, Gabriel Emeka and Vintura Grillo, were taken into custody.
While this was going on, NDLEA agents in Niger state detained two suspects, Ismail Musa and Jidda Abbas, with 10,780 bottles of Akuskura, a brand-new psychoactive narcotic, hidden inside two Toyota Camry saloon cars with the license plates AGL 861 GS Lagos and KMK 118 SC Bayelsa. The shipment was being distributed in Abuja when it was loaded in Ibadan, Oyo state.
While agents seized 25,000 Tramadol capsules in Plateau and detained the owner, Ifeanyi Nweanwe, a beer shop owner, in a follow-up operation in Bauchi, agents also seized pharmaceutical opioids valued more than N30 million on Thursday, November 18th, in a commercial bus in Asaba, Delta state.
In response to the recent arrests and seizures, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, praised the officers and personnel of the MMIA, Tincan, Delta, FCT, Niger, Ondo, and Plateau Commands, as well as those of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, for their zeal, dedication, and outstanding efforts to achieve success in their respective fields of responsibility.
He enjoined them and their compatriots across the country to stay focused.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was laid to rest in his hometown of Nnewi, Anambra State.
The funeral, held at his residence in Umuanuka, Otolo Nnewi, was attended by a multitude of mourners, including political figures, business associates, and community members, all paying their final respects to the esteemed businessman and politician.
The burial proceedings commenced with a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m., followed by condolence visits and other funeral activities. The ceremonies are scheduled to continue through the weekend, culminating in a Thanksgiving Mass and Outing Service on Sunday, November 24, at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Otolo Nnewi.
READ MORE: JUST IN: Anambra Senator, Ubah, Dies In London
In light of security concerns, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, ordered the closure of schools in Nnewi for a week. This decision followed threats from separatist elements who vowed to attack those attending the burial. A circular from the state Ministry of Education directed school principals to inform parents and ensure students remained at home during this period.
The Anambra State Police Command addressed an incident that occurred on Wednesday night, clarifying that it was not related to the burial. According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the incident involved security operatives mistakenly engaging police personnel, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The situation has since been brought under control.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District, passed away in London in July 2024 at the age of 52. His death was met with an outpouring of grief from across the nation, with many acknowledging his significant contributions to the development of Anambra State and Nigeria.
As the community of Nnewi and the nation at large bid farewell to Senator Ubah, his legacy as a philanthropist, businessman, and public servant continues to resonate, leaving an indelible mark on those he served and inspired.
The Enugu State Government has commended the Republic of Finland for the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based leader of the proscribed separatist group, Autopilots.
Ekpa has been accused of orchestrating violence and chaos in Nigeria’s South East region.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the government described Ekpa as a “common criminal, con man, and terrorist” who has exploited the Igbo people while claiming to represent their interests.
RELATED NEWS: Finnish Police Arrest Simon Ekpa Over Terror-Related Allegations
“The Enugu State Government welcomes the arrest of the Finland-based terrorist, Simon Ekpa,” the statement read.
“His arrest and trial will no doubt go a long way in strengthening peace, security, and stability in all parts of the South East.”
The state government accused Ekpa of sponsoring violent activities that have resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption of the region’s economic activities.
It stated that Ekpa’s actions were driven by personal greed and not genuine concern for the Igbo people.
Onyia said, “Ekpa is a murderer and fraudster who delights in killing his people and living large off their misery.
“He thrives on manipulating, exploiting, and extorting the people on the pretext of fighting for their interest and for the restoration of Biafra.”
The government emphasized its readiness to provide evidence of Ekpa’s alleged crimes to support his prosecution, whether in Finland or Nigeria.
“This arrest is in line with the demand of the Governor Peter Mbah Administration, which has repeatedly made it known that Ekpa is a megalomaniac, common criminal, murderer, and fraudster who takes joy in feeding fat on the manipulated emotions of Ndigbo and inflicting misery on the South East region,” the statement added.
The government further criticized Ekpa for fostering a climate of fear and insecurity that has harmed the entrepreneurial spirit and economic growth of the Igbo people.
“Ekpa has for long, and unfortunately from Finland, made a living by creating a siege climate and mentality in the South East, destroying lives, property, and the Igbo trademark of entrepreneurship and hard work,” Onyia said.
The Enugu State Government expressed optimism that Ekpa’s arrest would mark a turning point in the quest for peace and stability in the South East, urging residents to remain vigilant and supportive of ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the region.
The COP29 presidency has unveiled an ambitious climate finance plan, calling on developed nations to provide $250 billion annually to developing countries by 2035.
The proposal, part of a broader initiative to mobilize $1.3 trillion from public and private sources each year, seeks to address the mounting challenges posed by climate change.
The five-page draft text, released on Friday, emphasizes the need for developed nations to lead the charge in financing climate action.
RELATED NEWS: COP29: Climate Summit Faces Deadlock Over Vague Funding Proposals For Vulnerable Nations
According to the document, this financial commitment is seen as a critical step toward combating the climate crisis and fostering sustainable development globally.
“In this context, it is decided to set a goal in extension of the goal referred to in paragraph 53 of decision 1/CP.21, with developed country Parties taking the lead, to USD 250 billion per year by 2035 for developing country Parties for climate action,” the draft states.
The announcement follows the release of an earlier 10-page draft on Thursday, which drew significant criticism from Global South delegations.
Many expressed frustration that the document lacked clear financial commitments from wealthier nations, falling short of expectations to support adaptation and mitigation efforts.
“There is a clear need to address the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, especially given the diverse circumstances shaping national priorities,” a negotiator from a developing country delegation remarked.
The updated proposal aims to address some of these concerns by outlining more specific targets. However, skepticism remains among some negotiators, who feel the revisions still fail to adequately address their demands.
Meanwhile, developed countries have raised their own reservations about the proposed plan.
A European negotiator, speaking to Reuters, described the $250 billion annual target as unrealistic and criticized the lack of measures to expand the pool of contributing countries.
“No one is comfortable with the number because it’s high, and there’s almost nothing on broadening the contributor base,” the negotiator said.
The mixed reactions underscore the persistent divide between developed and developing nations in climate negotiations.
While the draft text aims to reconcile these differences, the gap between expectations and commitments remains a significant hurdle.
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