A multi-million-naira mansion located at K-5A/2 Road 14, Victoria Garden City estate, Lekki area of Lagos used as a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Okenwa Nzewi, has been forfeited to the Federal Government following his successful prosecution and conviction in court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The NDLEA in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday said Okenwa was arrested alongside his associate, Sunny Okeh, on July 30, 2022 and subsequently arraigned on four counts in charge number FHC/L/527C/2022 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “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 fine of N4m and N3m 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.
“To further deny him of enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as clandestine laboratory 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.”
Meanwhile, the NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday, December 15 arrested a 75-year-old grandma, Mrs Sekinat Soremekun, for dealing in illicit drugs.
“At the time of her arrest in the Oshodi area of Lagos, quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup were recovered from her. She claimed her son, Segun, who is now at large supplied her the illicit substances which she retailed,” the NDLEA noted.
In Imo State, operatives on a patrol along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday, December 14, intercepted a way-billed consignment containing cocaine weighing 2.287kg. The shipment coming from Lagos was concealed in cellophane condoms, and headed to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Our correspondent learnt that a suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, has already been arrested.
It was also discovered that no fewer than 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 Friday, December 15, while he was also arrested.
At the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, the NDLEA said over 1.5 million pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol were intercepted in a cargo going to South Africa by its operatives in collaboration with personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Two suspects- Bada Akorede, and Amusan Sharafadeen- have so far been taken into custody in connection with the consignment, which consists of 1,050,000 pills of tramadol 225mg and 510,000 tablets of rohypnol.
The anti-drug agency also revealed that its operatives on Friday, December 15 intercepted a consignment of 1, 496 bottles of codeine syrup at A.Y.A area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 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 said to have been seized along the Abaji-Abuja Highway on Saturday, December 16, after which a suspect, Bala Ishaq, was arrested during a follow-up operation at the Zuba motor park.
