Drug baron forfeits Lagos mansion, other items to FG

. Grandma arrested, 1.5m S’Africa-bound opioid pills impounded

The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said a convicted drug baron, one Okenwa Chris Nzewi, has forfeited his multi-million-naira mansion, located in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, Lagos, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, following his prosecution and conviction in court.

The building was forfeited following its use as a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine, a drug prohibited by Nigerian law.

The NDLEA said the drug baron was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, on July 30, 2022 and arraigned on four counts in charge, number FHC/L/527C/2022, at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

They both pleaded guilty on July 17, 2023, while they were convicted and sentenced to four and three years imprisonment, each, with an option of N4 million fine and N3 million, respectively, in addition to community service for four and three weeks, each.

His vehicle, marked EKY 496 DJ, was equally forfeited to the Federal Government. The agency also filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building at the Federal High Court Lagos, which initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on December 6, before the final forfeiture on December 7, 2023.

Also, the NDLEA, on December 5, said it arrested a 75-year-old grandma, Sekinat Soremekun, in Lagos, for dealing in illicit drugs.

At the time of her arrest in the Oshodi area of Lagos, cannabis and litres of codeine syrup were recovered from her.

She claimed her son, one Segun, who is now at large, supplied her the illicit substances, which she retailed.

Also, in Imo State, operatives on patrol, along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, on December 14, intercepted a way-billed consignment containing cocaine, weighing 2.287kg.

The shipment, which was coming from Lagos, was concealed in cellophane condoms, and heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

In the same vein, 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100kg were recovered from the ceiling of a dealer, Ibrahim Yahaya, 35, when his house was raided in the Tudun Kofa area of Lafia, Nasarawa State on December 15. Yahaya has been arrested.

At the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, Lagos, over 1.5 million pills of tramadol (225mg) and rohypnol were intercepted in a cargo going to South Africa, in collaboration with personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Two suspects: Bada Olanrewaju Akorede and Amusan Olufela Sharafadeen have been taken into custody in connection with the consignment. At the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, operatives, on December 15, intercepted a consignment of 1,496 bottles of codeine syrup at the A.Y.A area of the city, while a suspect, Ozioma Enoja, 31, was arrested in a follow up operation.

Another consignment of 400 bottles of the same opioid, coming from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was also seized along the Abaji-Abuja highway, on December 16, after which a suspect, Bala Ishaq, was arrested during a follow up operation at Zuba motor park.

Seventeen bags of cannabis sativa weighing 195.8kg, stored in a bush at Gbanke village, Orhionmwon Local Council of Edo State, were recovered by NDLEA operatives on December 13. Also, anti-narcotic officers in Ogun State intercepted two suspects: Edun Olowokou and Tunde Elijah, at the Alamutu roundabout area of Abeokuta with bags of the same psychoactive substance, weighing 279kg.