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.
NEWS
Ibadan Funfair Tragedy: Former Ooni’s Wife, Others Remanded Over Stampede
A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has ordered the remand of Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with Oriyomi Hamzat, the CEO of Agidigbo FM, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
The trio was arraigned on Tuesday in connection with the recent tragic stampede that occurred during a Christmas funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The incident, which claimed the lives of 35 children and injured six others, has drawn widespread public and legal attention.
Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi issued the remand order following charges brought against the defendants. The police prosecutor stated that their alleged offences contravened Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
READ MORE: States Tighten Measures To Prevent Stampedes At Events
The prosecution accused the defendants of being involved in the organization of the event, which turned disastrous, leading to the stampede. Pending legal advice from the Oyo State Director of Public Prosecutions, the court directed their detention at the correctional facility.
The court session, held amidst heavy security, attracted significant public interest. Law enforcement officers were seen providing tight security as the suspects were escorted to and from the courtroom.
Further updates on the legal proceedings are expected as investigations continue.
NEWS
Labour Kicks Against N935/Litre Petrol, Wants More
A cry has gone out for further reduction of the pump prices of premium motor spirit (PMS) in Nigeria to reflect local domestic production of refined products.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)has urged further reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, insisting that the recent drop in price to N935/litre was begging the situation.
Recall that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in partnership with MRS recently announced a reduction in petrol price to N935/litre.
Before the announcement, the commodity sold for over N1,030/litre in Lagos and environs, while it cost more than N1,060/litre in Abuja and Northern states.
ALSO READ: CSOs Urge Further Reduction Of Pump Prices Of Petrol
In a swift reaction, on Sunday, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said its members would be selling petrol at N935/litre from Monday based on the latest arrangement with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
IPMAN’s National President, Maigandi Garima,, according The Punch, said the reduction in Dangote refinery’s ex-depot price for petrol and the uniform arrangement being put in place, would enable marketers to sell at N935 in their outlets nationwide.
They had set aside N36/litre as cost of logistics.
However, the announcement did not excite the NLC, which insisted on Monday that the cost of petrol should drop further.
A senior official of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, unequivocally rejected any commendation for the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) over the recent reduction in the pump price of petrol.
He argued that the current pricing mechanism does not reflect the true cost of the commodity, according to The Punch.
“Do you want us to clap for them? How can we be okay with a price of N935/litre of PMS? This is not the right price for PMS. You cannot base the price on imported products when we have refining capacity in Nigeria,” he said.
He argued that the costs embedded in the current pricing framework — including foreign labour, freight charges, insurance, logistics, and profits accrued abroad — unfairly burden Nigerians.
“Products are refined in Nigeria, yet the price you give Nigerians is based on imported products. Why should we applaud that? It is akin to someone stealing your money and returning only part of it, then expecting you to clap. We cannot applaud this,” he stated.
Onyeka stressed that the only way to ascertain the correct price of PMS is by determining the actual cost of refining it domestically.
“We need to know how much it costs the NNPC to refine a litre of PMS in our local refineries, such as the Port Harcourt refinery. That is the price Nigerians should be paying,” he emphasised.
He called on the government to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by ensuring that fuel pricing aligns with local realities.
“This country belongs to all Nigerians. Let the government do the right thing that allows Nigerians to breathe. Let the poor breathe.
“The NLC’s position underscores growing discontent among Nigerians over the rising cost of living, with fuel prices being a major contributor to inflation and economic hardship,” he stated.
NEWS
No Regrets On Subsidy Removal, Tax Reforms To Continue – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu, during his first Presidential Media Chat aired on the Nigerian Television Authority on Monday, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the ongoing tax reforms and subsidy removal, maintaining that the measures are essential to securing Nigeria’s economic future.
The tax reforms, designed to eliminate colonial-era practices and widen the tax net, have faced significant resistance from some quarters, particularly from northern lawmakers and governors. Despite this, Tinubu declared, “Tax reform is here to stay. We cannot just continue to do what we were doing yesteryears in today’s economy.”
The reforms, encapsulated in four bills transmitted to the National Assembly, aim to streamline taxation and revenue generation.
However, critics, including Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, have argued for caution. “The Petroleum Industry Bill took almost 20 years before it was finally passed. This tax reform bill is being transmitted and receiving legislative attention within a week. It should be treated carefully and with caution,” Zulum said in an interview with BBC.
Despite calls for broader consultations and delays, Tinubu emphasized the pro-poor nature of the reforms, noting that the vulnerable would not be taxed. “The essence of the tax reform is to eliminate colonial-based assumptions in our tax environment,” he stated.
READ MORE: President Tinubu Set For First Nationwide Media Chat Tonight
No Regrets Over Subsidy Removal
Addressing the economic hardship resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy, Tinubu defended his decision as necessary to prevent Nigeria from “spending its future.” He dismissed the notion of a phased removal, stating, “Phased removal is part of unnecessary fear. No matter how you cut it, you still have to meet the bills.”
The President highlighted the benefits of subsidy removal, pointing out that the policy had curtailed smuggling and freed up resources for more productive uses. “There is no way that you give out fuel and allow all the neighbouring countries as Father Christmas. I don’t have any regret whatsoever in removing the subsidy,” he said.
Tackling Inflation and Corruption
Tinubu also discussed his administration’s strategies to reduce inflation, emphasizing local production and import reduction. “If one produces more for consumption locally, stop imports, give a reasonable level of funding and assistance… we have what it takes,” he explained.
On corruption, the President cited increased earnings for workers and stricter oversight by anti-corruption agencies as key measures. He pointed to the recent seizure of hundreds of properties reportedly owned by a former Central Bank Governor as evidence of his administration’s efforts. “Part of the anti-corruption is removal of subsidy. It is very difficult to eliminate but you reduce it to the barest minimum,” Tinubu stated.
Food Stampedes and Governance
The President expressed condolences over recent tragic stampedes during food distribution events, attributing the incidents to poor organization by event planners. “If you don’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to give or publicize it,” he warned.
Tinubu concluded by reaffirming his commitment to efficient governance and economic reforms, stating, “The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it has to be done.”
The reforms continue to spark nationwide debates, with stakeholders divided over their potential long-term impacts.