News
In midnight raid, NDLEA seizes 6 vehicles, 40ft trailer load skunk in Abuja+Photos
… Intercepts Australia-bound cocaine in face cream bottles in Lagos; N1.1b worth of codeine shipment in Rivers; nabs traditional priest for drug trafficking
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms has been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja for onward distribution to some Northern states.
The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday 11th January 2025 led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond. The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local council area of Edo State.
In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.
No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA. The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.
A total of Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred (338,200) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than One Billion One Hundred and Ninety Million One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira (N1,190,168,200.00) in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.
The illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.
In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on 25th October 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him. Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.
A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road, Kano on Thursday 9th January where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg; and 40,800 pills of opioids including tramadol from him.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ijaye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Lagos state; surrendered Boko Haram members at Hajj camp, Maiduguri, Borno state; Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer at Kamba Central Mosque, Kebbi state, while Kano state Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the District Head of Danbatta, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, among others.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, FCT, PHPC, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has nabbed a renowned business executive and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
Her legal team made this known in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, her lawyer had reportedly told the Federal High Court in Abuja that she had already stated in her court documents that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to allegations related to an ongoing investigation.
The court also directed that she must be present before it on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to continue proceedings in the matter.
The Chairman of Ward 1 of the Labour Party (LP) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Okasime Olowojoba, has been kidnapped while traveling along the Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road.
The incident occurred on Saturday near Sasaro, a location notorious for frequent cases of abduction. Olowojoba, who also works as a realtor, was reportedly returning to Igarra after visiting Auchi to pick up his children following their holiday break.
According to reports, the assailants initially seized everyone in the vehicle — Olowojoba, his children, and a house help — but later freed the children and the domestic aide, taking only Olowojoba deep into the forest.
A family member speaking with Vanguard on Monday revealed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release.
The source explained, “Valentine Okasime Olowojoba was returning with his children when he was ambushed and kidnapped around Sasaro. The lack of network service throughout Saturday delayed any contact with the kidnappers until Sunday afternoon.”
“The attackers abandoned the vehicle at the scene and took him away. His brother later confirmed that a N50 million ransom has been demanded. We also heard reports of additional abductions in the same area on Sunday,” the source added.
Efforts to reach the Edo State Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Vanguard
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1 billion suit instituted against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele over the hardships that trailed the 2023 Naira redesign policy.
The judge threw out the suit instituted by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Uthman Isa Tochukwu on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution of the case.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo said that he was convinced that the plaintiff had deliberately abandoned his own case due to his persistent absence in court without legal representation and any explanation.
The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023 had dragged the former President, Attorney General of the Federation, former governor of the CBN, CBN and two commercial banks before the court claiming that they inflicted series of hardships on him during the redesign of the Naira.
In the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Bala Dakum, the plaintiff alleged that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and dignity of his person were violently breached.
Specifically, the legal practitioner claimed his movement was curtailed while his money in the two commercial banks could not be assessed during the hardship occasioned by the redesign of the Naira in January and March 2023.
He therefore prayed the court to award N1 billion damages against the defendants to be paid to him for the breach of his fundamental rights.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, both the plaintiff and his counsel were not in court and did not offer any excuse for their absence.
Counsel to the 3rd and 4th defendants (Emefiele and CBN) Mr Chikelue Amasiani drew the attention of Justice Ekwo to the persistent absence of the plaintiff and his counsel in court during past proceedings.
He prayed the judge to strike out the suit and that the plaintiff can come back to revive the case when ready to show seriousness.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo agreed with the lawyer and struck out the suit.
-
News24 hours agoInsecurity: BUDA urges govt to quickly rescue Baruten from terrorists
-
News6 hours agoCourt dismisses Emefiele’s bid to reclaim forfeited 753 duplex estate
-
News20 hours agoBreaking: Late gospel singer Osinachi’s husband sentenced to death by hanging
-
News22 hours agoWeeks to 2nd anniversary, Niger deputy gov, plans to resign, move out personal effects
-
Metro6 hours agoWanted CBEX promoter surrenders to EFCC
-
News20 hours agoVatican: Conclave to elect a new pope will start on May 7
-
Politics6 hours agoPDP Calls Emergency Session as Top Members Flee to APC
-
News20 hours agoSultan declares Tuesday first day of Zulki’ida 1446AH