NDLEA arrests drug baron behind Ghana-bound 11.913kg cocaine, seizes 1.9 million tramadol, codeine

Published

2 years ago

March 24, 2022

admin

In yet another successful operation, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday said it seized over 1.9 million tablets of tramadol and codeine imported into the country from Pakistan and the United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The agency, in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said of the total seizures, 40 cartons of co-codamol, a brand of paracetamol, with codeine, were seized from a freight agent, Eraikhueme Ehis.

“The seizure, made on Thursday, March 10, translates to 349,800 tablets, weighing 336 kilogrammes. The consignment came from London, UK, as a consolidated cargo through the SAHCO import shed of the airport. The consolidated cargo was declared as personal effects, but was discovered to contain some medicaments.

“In the same vein, not less than 1,584,000 tablets of tramadol were recovered on Tuesday, March 15, by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with aviation security and Customs service personnel at the airport.

READ NDLEA intercepts 14.5 tons of Ghanaian Loud linked to wanted drug baron in Lagos

“The seizure includes 17 cartons of 250mg tramadol, branded as ‘Tamra’ weighing 669.70kg and five cartons of 225mg tramadol, under the brand name, ‘Royal’ with a gross weight of 217.15kg.

“The psychotropic substance, which was imported into the country from Pakistan, was smuggled through the airport tarmac using one of the vehicles of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company and was intercepted at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria personnel yard.

“Two suspects — Ofijeh John Mova, a SAHCO driver; and Nyam Gazu Alex, a security guard with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company — have so far been arrested in connection with the seizure,” the statement added.

The NDLEA noted that it previously intercepted 2,160 tablets of co-codamol, among others.

Babafemi said, “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have arrested one of the kingpins behind the attempt to smuggle 11.93kg of cocaine to Accra, Ghana, through the Seme land border, Lagos. The 50-year-old suspect, Oyewunmi Ademola Ahmed, was arrested on Tuesday, March 15, at the Mile 2 area of Lagos after a series of follow-up operations following the arrest of a driver, Osagie Anthony, with the 11.913kg cocaine at Gbaji, Seme-Badagry Expressway on January 23.”

READ Why I joined APC - Tonto Dikeh

Related Topics:DRUG BARON DRUG SEIZURE NDLEA

Up Next

National Assembly to appeal judgment voiding Electoral Act Section 84 (12)

Don't Miss

Actress Regina Chukwu celebrates new age with cute photos

Click to comment

News

Court knocks FG for lack of diligent prosecution in Tukur Mamu’s terrorism financing case

Published

5 mins ago

April 29, 2024

admin

A federal high court in Abuja has reprimanded the federal government for lack of diligent prosecution in the charge filed against Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspaper.

At the court session on Monday, David Kaswe, prosecution counsel, was not in court despite having entered his name on the cause list, indicating his presence.

Abdul Mohammed, Mamu’s counsel, urged the court to stand down the matter to await Kaswe’s return.

However, the prosecution lawyer was still not in court when the case was called again after the judge had delivered a judgment.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, expressed surprise over “the miraculous disappearance” of the federal government’s lawyer in court.

“I am also aware that the prosecution was in court this morning, but as to the miracle of the disappearance of the prosecution as at the time this matter comes up for hearing is beyond my understanding,” Ekwo said.

“This antic of the prosecution is only being tolerated in today’s proceeding.

“If the prosecution demonstrates that they are not ready to prosecute this matter either diligently or expeditiously, the court will make the right decision at that point.”

READ Busted: NDLEA uncovers illicit drugs hidden in baby dolls, local soap, Milo tins

MAMU ASKS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO KUJE PRISON

Mamu’s lawyer moved an application to transfer his client to the Kuje correctional facility.

He said the prosecution had already responded to the motion.

In the application, the defence counsel said the Department of State Services (DSS) has refused to obey a previous court order which directed that Mamu should be allowed access to his doctors.

He said Mamu would get proper medical attention in Kuje prison.

“This application is brought so that we will take the defendant to the prisons because they always obey court orders there so that if we go there, he will have access to his medical officer,” he said.

“It is completely within the discretion of the court and we do not want to bring an application for contempt as that will take time.

“Therefore, we want the court to vary the order and the defendant will stay in the Kuja correctional facility. That is what we are asking for.”

READ Four Nigerians jailed in Dubai for robbery

The judge adjourned the matter until May 20 for ruling on Mamu’s application.

BACKGROUND

Mamu is standing trial for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

After his arrest in 2022, the federal government said $300,000 was found in his possession.

He was arraigned in March 2023 by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism.

However, in March, he pleaded not guilty to all the counts and denied having allegiance to the terrorists.

Mamu is alleged to have received $120,000 as ransom payments on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The monies were said to have been received from families of hostages kidnapped during the train attack.

He was also accused of exchanging voice note communications relating to the hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.

The federal government also tagged the $300,000 found in Mamu’s possession after his arrest, as terrorist funds.

READ NDLEA intercepts 14.5 tons of Ghanaian Loud linked to wanted drug baron in Lagos

Mamu, an aide to Ahmad Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric, was involved in negotiations for the release of the passengers abducted during the attack on a Kaduna-bound train.

News

Abuse of office: Emefiele challenges jurisdiction of Lagos court to try him

Published

56 mins ago

April 29, 2024

admin

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has deferred till the end of trial, its ruling on the application filed by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him on the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olalekan Ojo, Emefiele submitted that he cannot be tried in the high court of any state in Nigeria for alleged acts of abuse of his office as this raises issues of constitutionality and legality.

The former CBN governor also noted that counts 1-4 of the 26 counts charge filed by the EFCC against him are unconstitutional as they are not contained in any law in Nigeria.

His counsel asked the court to make an order striking out counts one to four of the charge on the grounds that:

READ I’ve had enough of PDP, says Senator Bent as she defects to APC

. the Honourable Court has no jurisdiction to try the offence of abuse of office in relation to the office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria which the 1st Defendant occupied at all times material to the commission of the offences and

ii. the 1st Defendant’s/Applicant’s acts said to constitute arbitrary acts resulting in abuse of office are not offences known to law as mandatorily required by section 36(12) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

The EFCC through its counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, however, countered these arguments.

Citing decided cases of the Supreme Court, he asked the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, not to defer or prevent the trial of the case on the basis of objections challenging the particulars of the counts of the information.

“That approach is intended to take us back to where we are coming from as this were the basis for Section 1 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA and the purpose for which Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL was intended. The intention of our collective resolution as a nation was to to prevent undue delay in our criminal cases.

READ NDLEA arrests Italy-bound lady, pregnant woman, others for drug trafficking

“I urge my lord to refuse this invitation, trial has commenced, this application to prevent the trial today is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional and I urge the court not to depart from the decision of the apex court as to do so would amount to judicial rascality,” Oyedepo stated.