Crime
NDLEA Unveils Multiple Arrests, Massive Drug Hauls Nationwide
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed a series of multiple arrests and substantial drug hauls, spanning the entirety of the nation over the week.
In Abuja, A 40-year-old businessman, Sherif Egbo, was apprehended by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency operatives at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris, Egbo was discovered to have ingested illicit drugs during a body scan on Saturday, October 14. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest of the Spain-based individual.
In a weekly communique released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi stated that “Egbo was subsequently placed under observation at the agency’s exhibit recovery room where he excreted 93 pellets of heroin weighing 2.222 kilogrammes. In his statement, the suspect claimed he works at a chicken hatchery farm in Madrid, Spain, and also in the drug trafficking business,”
In additional details, the communique disclosed that on Monday, October 16, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO imports shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, intercepted a consignment. The seizure included 10 cartons holding 500,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, falsely branded as tapentadol.
The cargo, which was shipped from India through Qatar Airways with airwaybill number MAWB 319-01227236 was purported to be a transit cargo to Monrovia, Liberia.
However, the lid was blown open through partnership and real-time intelligence-sharing mechanisms between NDLEA and its Liberian counterpart.
Also, an attempt by an intending passenger, Ngene Chinecherem, to Muscat, Oman on Qatar Airways, to export 11.100kgs of skunk and 600grams of tramadol concealed in foodstuffs through the Lagos airport was thwarted by NDLEA officers who arrested him and seized the illicit substances.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI), deployed to courier companies, made significant interceptions on Sunday, October 15.
They discovered 1kg of methamphetamine concealed in containers of body cream destined for New Zealand. Additionally, another consignment of 2.5kgs of cocaine and phenacetin was found hidden in the walls of a carton intended for Saudi Arabia.
Further seizures occurred on Wednesday, October 18, at a different courier company in Lagos. NDLEA made two discoveries: 112 grams of Dimethyl Sulfone hidden in the hollow of a motor driving shaft en route to New Zealand, and 583 grams of Cocaine and phenacetin concealed in a bottle of body cream destined for Saudi Arabia.
In Imo state on Sunday, October 15, operatives intercepted a Mercedes Benz container truck with the plate number ABN 418 YN, discovered parked in an isolated area along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway. Upon searching the abandoned truck, they uncovered 168 bags of skunk, weighing a total of 1,854 kilograms.
During the week, a total of 1,381.3kgs of the same substance were seized in Edo state through four interdiction operations in various locations: Ekpon community, Igueben LGA; Iguiye forest in Ovia North East LGA; Iruekpen, Ndokwa West (resulting in the arrest of Monday Nwocha); and in Egwalor village in Onwude LGA (leading to the arrest of Obune Prince and Chika Obi). In the latter operation, their Audi 80 salon car with the plate number BEN 406 CL, loaded with cannabis sativa, was also recovered.
In Kano state, on Saturday, October 14, at Gadar Tamburawa area, an ex-convict, Aminu Suleiman, 46, along with Haruna Abdurrahaman, 41, and Ojo Esezobor, 34, were arrested. The NDLEA recovered 106kgs of cannabis from them. Notably, Aminu had been previously arrested with 22kgs of cannabis on June 3, 2022, leading to his conviction on November 24, 2022.
In another development, at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Monday, October 16, four additional suspects—Inusa Ali, Yahaya Musa, Abba Audu, Ali Abubakar, and Bunu Kyari—were apprehended for their involvement in dealing 75.3kgs of skunk.
Simultaneously, operatives of the Zone J Command of the NDLEA discovered and seized 478kgs of cannabis in a forest in Ikere Ekiti on Friday, October 20.
In a separate operation, the Ondo state command recovered a total of 928kgs of the same substance in a bush near Shagari market along Ifon-Owo express road and Ibola camp, Ipele forest.
Moving to Borno state, on Saturday, October 21, a suspect named Sani Mohammed, 31, was arrested with 182kgs of cannabis at Njimtilo, along the Maiduguri–Damaturu road.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of renowned gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.
Biztellers reports that Thankgod is facing allegations of involvement in a $345,000 fraud case.
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The arrest warrant had been issued by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court on January 16, 2025, following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking to compel Thankgod’s appearance in court.
During a court session on Friday, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, applied to withdraw the warrant, stating that the charges had already been served on Thankgod’s lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, SAN, during open court proceedings.
She argued that the warrant was no longer necessary.
Justice Owoeye granted the application and formally vacated the bench warrant.
Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday to challenge charges of N12.3 billion fraud.
Biztellers reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 13-count indictment against Otudeko, along with Olabisi Onasanya, former Managing Director of FirstBank Plc., Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell, and Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
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During the proceedings, the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), raised an objection, stating that the charge had not been properly served to Otudeko or his co-defendants.
Olanipekun emphasized this issue as a reason for protest in court.
The EFCC has accused the individuals and the company of fraudulently obtaining N12.3 billion under false pretenses.
More to follow………..
Crime
Arrested Boko Haram Suspects: Adeleke Commends Security Operatives, Assures Safety Of Residents
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has commended the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), on the successful operation, that led to the arrest of 10 suspected members of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ilesa, Osun State.
Gov Adeleke expressed his feelings in a statement on micro-blogging site, X, on Saturday.
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According to the statement, Gov Adeleke hailed the alertness of security operatives, to eliminate the threats posed by the suspected terrorists, which gives further assurance that our security agencies are up to the task of sustaining peace and security of every part of Nigeria.
He particularly commended the intelligence gathering of the personnel of the State Service, who have painstakingly monitor the activities of the suspected criminals and moved swiftly to cut off their dastardly act.
“This is a welcome development and a big relief, not just for us as a government but to the people of the state and Nigeria in general. I commend the security operatives for their alertness and intelligence driven operation. We have absolute confidence in our security forces to keep protecting us”, Gov Adeleke declared.
He assured that his administration will continue to cooperate with security agencies and support their operations to ensure maximum protection of lives and property of Osun people, noting that this remains top of his priority.
“As the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, I will continue to give priority to issues of security of my people. I will continue to support efforts of security agencies to guard against any breakdown of law and order in any part of Osun. We will sustain the good relationship and collaboration that currently exists between our administration and the security agencies in the state” the Governor noted.
Gov Adeleke enjoined residents of Osun to continue to be watchful, and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods to relevant security agency, while assuring that Osun will continue to be a peaceful state under his watch.
“I hereby call on my people to continue to live in peace and harmony and be at alert to report any suspicious activities or behavior around them to the relevant security authorities. Together, we will ensure that Osun remains the most peaceful state in Nigeria” he concluded.
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