Connect with us

Crime

Convicted Drug Baron Forfeits VGC Mansion, Jeep to FG

Published

on

Convicted Drug Baron Forfeits VGC Mansion, Jeep to FG

By: Michael Mike

A multi-million-naira mansion used as clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Okenwa Nzewi, has been forfeited to the federal government.

The property is located at K-5A/2 Road 14, Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate, Lekki area of Lagos used. The forfeiture followed a court ruling secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Okenwa was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Ukah on 30th July 2022 and subsequently arraigned on four counts in charge number FHC/L/527C/2022 at the Federal High Court, Lagos. They both pleaded guilty on 17th July, 2023, while they were convicted and sentenced to four and three years imprisonment with an option of fine of N4 million and N3 million respectively in addition to community service for four and three weeks each.

Okenwa’s vehicle marked EKY 496 DJ was equally forfeited to the Federal Government.

The NDLEA To further deny him enjoyment of proceeds of crime, filing 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 6th December before the final forfeiture on 7th December 2023.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday 15th December arrested a 75-year-old grandma, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun for dealing in illicit drugs. At the time of her arrest in 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.

In Imo, operatives on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha expressway last Thursday
intercepted a way-billed consignment containing cocaine weighing 2.287 kilogrammes . The shipment coming from Lagos was concealed in cellophane condoms, and heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, has already been arrested. No fewer than 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100 kilogrammes 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 last Friday while he was also arrested.

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

Two suspects: Bada Akorede, and Amusan Sharafadeen have so far been taken into custody in connection with the consignment, which consists: 1,050,000 pills of tramadol 225mg and 510,000 tablets of rohypnol.

At the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, operatives last Friday intercepted a consignment of 1,496 bottles of codeine syrup at 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 Abaji-Abuja highway on Saturday 16th December after which a suspect, Bala Ishaq was arrested during a follow up operation at Zuba motor park.

While 17 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 195.8 kilogrammes stored in a bush at Gbanke village, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state were recovered by NDLEA operatives last Wednesday, anti-narcotic officers in Ogun state intercepted two suspects: Edun Olowokou and Tunde Elijah at Alamutu roundabout area of Abeokuta with bags of same psychoactive substance weighing 279kg.

In Borno state, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested Bukar Ali, 29, and Abacha Alhaji Fantami, 20, with 171 kilogrammes of cannabis at Ngamdu, Kaga local government area, while three suspects: Jamilu Haruna, 22; Mohammed Hassan, 23; and Aminu Umar, 50, were nabbed with 57 kilogrammes cannabis on last Wednesday at Tsafe checkpoint, Zamfara state, when they were on their way to Zurumi, a village known as bandits’ enclave.

At least four suspects: Ezekiel Monday Thompson, 56; Hezekiah Ime, 20; Nsikak Okon Jonah, 39; and Chidi Kalu, 44, were arrested with a total of 121 kilogrammes cannabis and 5.1 grammes of methamphetamine in parts of Cross River state on Monday 10th December.

The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign of the agency continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship places and others across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA advocacy lecture for students of St. Margaret High School, Ilesa, Osun; students of Federal Government Girls College, Shagamu, Ogun; students of Wesley Model Primary and Secondary School, Badagry, Lagos; students and staff of Government Junior Secondary School and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Yaryasa, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano state.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, FCT, Imo, Edo, Borno, Ogun, Zamfara, and Cross River Commands for the arrests and seizures of the past week, as well as those of the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their diligent prosecution of cases in court, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to intensify the offensive action tempo against drug cartels as the yuletide season approaches while maintaining an equal balance with their drug demand reduction efforts.

Convicted Drug Baron Forfeits VGC Mansion, Jeep to FG

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Troops intensify operations against terrorists in North East, arrest logistics suppliers, recover weapons

Published

on

Troops intensify operations against terrorists in North East, arrest logistics suppliers, recover weapons

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with air components and local security stakeholders, have intensified clearance operations in the North East to deny Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists freedom of movement and access to logistics.

Zagazola Makama report that the sustained onslaughts across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States have led to the arrest of several logistics suppliers, recovery of weapons and explosive devices, and the neutralisation of insurgents in ambush operations.

In one of the recent breakthroughs, troops in conjunction with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators at the Biu main market on July 10.

The suspects Isah Abdullahi, 45, and Abdullahi Mohammed, 35, both from Liya village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, were intercepted while attempting to collect suspected terrorist-bound supplies delivered from Kano to the Biu Motor Park.

Items recovered from them included a sack containing 13 pairs of military desert boots, 20 high-wattage 9-volt batteries, and five pairs of slippers, all labeled with Isah’s phone number as the recipient.

Similarly, on July 13, troops acting on intelligence and working with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), arrested a 65-year-old logistics courier, Shaibu Bulama, at the Damasak Motor Park in Mobbar LGA.

Bulama, a native of Alagarno village in Yunusari LGA of Yobe State, was found with a white Toyota pickup truck. The vehicle contained two bags of rice, two cartons of pesticide sprayers, five gallons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and other assorted items hidden under the seats.

Meanwhile, in a targeted ambush on the same day, OPHK troops, alongside CJTF and local hunters, intercepted insurgents crossing between Ngoshe and Agapalwa in Gwoza LGA. One terrorist was neutralised while others fled, abandoning a bicycle and other supplies.

As part of the post-Operation Sand Fury exploitation in Malam Fatori general area, troops on July 13 discovered a partially buried corpse believed to be that of a terrorist. They also recovered an AK-47 rifle, magazine, and rounds of ammunition near an infiltration route used by insurgents along the fringes of Lake Chad.

In another key development, troops provided armed escort to over 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returning to their ancestral homes in Darel-Jamel from Bama on July 13. The military says the secure return of the IDPs is a critical aspect of stabilisation efforts supported by the Borno State Government.

Also, on July 14, troops conducting farm patrols near Banki in Bama LGA were alerted by a local farmer who discovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried in his field. A joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team successfully detonated the IEDs, which included mortar and artillery bombs already primed for detonation.

The same day, another IED was uncovered by troops in Molai, along the Maiduguri–Damboa Road axis. The EOD team detonated the device and recovered pressure plates and batteries suspected to be used for future attacks.

Elsewhere, acting on credible human intelligence, troops laid ambush near a terrorist crossing route in Tinush, a remote settlement in Kalabalge LGA. During the engagement, troops recovered 3 AK-47 magazines, 6 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 2 rocket-propelled grenade bombs, 57 rounds of PKM belted links, and a locally fabricated pistol.

In a related development, 16 family members of terrorists — including four adult females and 12 children — surrendered to troops in the Bama axis. Preliminary investigations indicated they fled from the Bakura Jega enclave, seeking safety from intensified military pressure.

In furtherance of logistics strangulation operations, troops on July 14 stormed Kudzum in Michika LGA of Adamawa State. During the raid, they recovered three motorcycles, 105 jerricans of PMS, and a tricycle believed to be part of the insurgents’ smuggling network.

A military source Zagazola that the combination of offensive clearance, ambush, counter-IED actions, and coordinated strangulation of terrorist logistics across the North East forms part of OPHK’s renewed strategy to degrade insurgent capabilities.

“These recent operations underscore the commitment of the Armed Forces to maintaining pressure on the terrorists and limiting their movement, logistics resupply, and capacity to threaten civilian populations,” the source said.

The military has assured residents of its determination to sustain the tempo of operations in synergy with state governments, community vigilantes, and international partners.

Troops intensify operations against terrorists in North East, arrest logistics suppliers, recover weapons

Continue Reading

Crime

One killed, two injured in cutlass attack in Niger community

Published

on

One killed, two injured in cutlass attack in Niger community

By: Zagazola Makama

The Niger State Police Command says it has launched an investigation into a brutal attack in Gidan-Mallam village, Mokwa Local Government Area, which left one person dead and two others critically injured.

Police sources told Zagazola Makama, that the incident occurred in the early hours of July 15 when unidentified assailants armed with cutlasses and sticks attacked three men Mohammed Maidaji, Abubakar Mani, and Mudasiru Halide along the Bokani-Madaji road.

Police sources said the victims sustained severe injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Mokwa, where Halide, unfortunately, died while receiving treatment.

His remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

One killed, two injured in cutlass attack in Niger community

Continue Reading

Crime

IPOB/ESN gunmen kill two in ambush on police team in Imo

Published

on

IPOB/ESN gunmen kill two in ambush on police team in Imo

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), on Thursday launched a deadly attack on a police team on investigative duty at a fuel station in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Zagazola understands that the incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. at Umueze Junction, O.C Paul Fuel Station, where the officers had accompanied a complainant to follow up on an investigation.

According to sources, two motorcycles carrying armed men stormed the fuel station and opened fire on a black Lexus RX 330 vehicle conveying the officers and the complainant.

The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO 1), DSP Ndubisi Achazie, narrowly escaped the ambush, but Inspector Okechukwu Ezema sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, where he was confirmed dead.

The complainant, died on the spot, and his body was deposited at Zander Mortuary, Mbaitoli.

The attackers also made away with the Lexus vehicle used by the victims, though no police firearm was reported missing.

A joint security operation involving the military, tactical police teams, local vigilantes, and hunters has been launched to track down the fleeing assailants.

The police have described the act as terrorism and reaffirmed their commitment to hunting down IPOB/ESN cells responsible for the attack.
End

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights