Metro
NDLEA Arrests Unrepentant Drug Dealer at Lagos Airport with N4.6bn Worth of Cocaine
Barely 16 months after he was arrested and convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine, a 48-year-old businessman, Christian Ogbuji, has been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for importing 817 wraps of the same Class A drug weighing 19.4 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of over N4.6 billion.
According to the spokesperson of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 10, 2023 upon arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.986 kilogrammes.
He was subsequently arraigned before Federal High Court 12 Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023 and convicted on 13th July 2023. Ogbuji was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of N3 million, which he paid and was set free.
Babafemi said that Ogbuji, on the court order, also forfeited the seized 1.986 kilogrammes cocaine, his international passport, 14 US dollars, and 9000 Uganda shillings found on him at the time of his arrest.
The spokesperson said: “Not done with crime, Ogbuji was again arrested at the Lagos airport on Wednesday 18th September 2024 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos. The suspect had approached the joint examination table with a black travelling bag, which was searched by an NDLEA operative who cleared the luggage. In a dubious move, Ogbuji sneaked back to the carousel area to put inside the cleared bag a black backpack he left on the conveyor’s belt.
As he made his way out of the arrival hall, vigilant NDLEA officers intercepted him and subjected him to a second search. It was then large wraps of excreted cocaine were found concealed inside the backpack hidden in the black travelling bag that was earlier found with the suspect.
He said a total of 817 pellets of cocaine excreted by many traffickers in Addis Ababa weighing 19.4 kilogrammes belonging to different members of a drug cartel were recovered.
Babafemi said during interrogation of the suspect, he stated that he initially left the backpack containing the drug at the carousel area as a strategy to beat NDLEA operatives, adding that he never knew there could be a “secondary search” since he had presented his bag for search previously and nothing incriminating was found. He claimed he had to procure a new international passport to continue his criminal trade.
The spokesperson said investigations disclosed Ogbuji was an unrepentant kingpin within the network of drug cartels operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria and others in the West African sub-region like Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire.
In his reaction to the arrest of Ogbuji, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for an excellent job done, adding that the seizure of such a large consignment of cocaine at the airport is a milestone that will send a strong message to the international drug cartels trying to find footholds in Nigeria.
He, however, assured that the agency will continue to work to disrupt the activities of drug cartels operating in the country
Sweepers across Lagos State on Saturday took time off the streets to be celebrated by Glo Foundation, the social responsibility arm of Globacom. It partnered their employers, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to host a special day to celebrate those who keep the streets of the state clean.
Hundreds of sweepers from all local governments and LCDAs in the state participated in the event, which was held at LAWMA’s Ijora Olopa Head Office in Lagos. Thanks to Globacom, the sweepers, who are often overlooked by society despite their demanding responsibilities, became the event’s main attraction as they danced and took part in a number of entertaining activities, such as games and prize draws.
Speaking at the event, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, the head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Globacom, said that the organization had chosen to honour the cleaners with a Rest and Relaxation event as a way of showing appreciation for the vital work they do every day, which often puts their lives in danger on the state’s highways. She added that the Glo Foundation’s efforts would also expand to other states in various forms of intervention.
Said she: “We recognize the important and thankless jobs that you do all over the state in ensuring that our roads and streets are clean every day. We recognize the hazards you face from drivers who don’t appreciate you and are at times impatient while you are by the roadside sweeping. It is the reason why we are here today to let you know how much we value you and your huge contributions to keeping Lagos clean on a continuous basis”.
She also disclosed that empowerment and skills acquisition programmes would be held for the sweepers in the following months. They include Fashion Skills (Fashion Design, jewelry making, Fabric Embellishment & Beading); Baking skills: (Basic cake and decoration, Fried and baked pastry, Bread making, soft skills and Entrepreneurship class); Digital Skills (Digital marketing, social media management, and e-commerce).
LAWMA’s Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, was full of admiration for Globacom’s offer to create a day to honor sweepers around the state. He also said the agency is pleased with the telecommunications company’s partnerships which he believed would encourage and motivate the sweepers to do even more.
He urged other corporate entities to follow Globacom’s example and reaffirmed the significance of the sweepers’ work in promoting the health and welfare of the populace.
Some of the sweepers thanked Globacom and the LAWMA Management for the chance to relax with their coworkers and for Glo’s exceptional gesture of appreciation to them. Lagos-born Rejoice Aniekwe Ifeoma revealed that working with LAWMA has given her the chance to better herself and establish a second source of income to support herself. Ifeoma, who is presently undergoing computer literacy training, stated that she spends her leisure time selling Tigernut and Zobo beverages. She was grateful to Globacom for providing this chance for leisure.
Another sweeper, Awolaja Esther, an Ikorodu resident, revealed that she has been employed by LAWMA for almost 15 years, using the position to establish an additional revenue stream in Ikorodu. She is training two undergraduates at the moment. She commended Globacom for organizing a day to honor and recognize her and her coworkers.
As part of the fun and excitement created exclusively for the sweepers, Globacom also held a lucky dip to give out various items including sewing machine, Inverter Microwave oven and grinding machine to some of the sweepers.
Madam Dorcas Adeniji, a resident of Oshodi in Lagos, won the grinding machine. She could hardly contain her joy as she danced after receiving the item. Mrs Adewusi Bisola, who resides in Alakuko in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA, won an Inverter Microwave oven. Her friends almost mobbed her when she came out to receive her prize. Another winner, Ige Sadatu, who won a sewing machine, thanked Globacom for the gift she was taking home.
Telecommunications and digital solutions company, Globacom, has said its Examination Preparatory Service was specifically designed to help students excel in Computer-Based examinations.
Reacting to the poor performance of students in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) examination, the company explained that the Glo Examination Preparatory Service trains students on practical ways to excel in Computer-Based examinations such as Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Junior and Senior West African Examination Council examinations as well as IELTS.
The 2025 UTME results released by JAMB on May 5 had elicited widespread concerns as more than 1.5 million out of 1.9 million candidates whose results were released scored below 200. A breakdown of the results released by JAMB on Monday showed that 983,187 candidates (50.29%) scored between 160 and 199, while 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159.
Globacom said in a press statement in Lagos that the Glo Examination Preparatory Service would help combat poor examination performances especially among secondary school students who take the listed exams.
The service offers targeted approach to exam preparation, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the format, structure, and content of the exams they will be undertaking, the company explained, adding, “By engaging with these practice materials, students can identify areas of weakness, reinforce their understanding of key concepts, and develop effective exam-taking strategies”.
According to Glo, users of the service which covers up to twenty subjects with links to educational videos and materials can subscribe by dialling *20791*6# on their mobile lines and selecting their intended exam from the menu. The content is supplied on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and the user will be charged at the applicable price for each successful subscription while specific exam categories will be treated under each content to allow users pick their choice exams amongst the categories available in the service. The categories include JSCE (Junior Secondary Certificate Exam); SSCE (Senior Secondary Certificate Exam); UTME Exam (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam) otherwise called JAMB and A-Levels Exams.
The service will give practical tips on how to become familiar with the format, structure, and type of questions asked in the exams, thereby increasing their success rates when they participate in the exams; identify areas where they may be struggling within the exams and how to address the challenges by actively answering practice questions to reinforce their understanding of key concepts and principles covered in their syllabus. “This active recall enhances long-term retention and comprehension”, Glo said.
Customers who opt-in for this service will have access to trivia questions built around the exam syllabus with top scorers in the exam winning fantastic airtime, data, and cash prizes.
Authorities in Kaduna State are currently dealing with a case of multiple rape of a 14-year-old girl by different men leading to conception and eventual delivery of a baby boy.
Already, Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kaduna has order the remand of 10 of the suspect at a Correctional Facility over the incident, while the eleventh person is said to be on the run.
The teenage girl living with disability, according to the First Information Report (FIR), resides in Likoro village, Kudan Local Government Area.
The FIR continued that the suspects raped the victim continuously at different intervals by luring her into their various abodes.
An Inspector of Police, Yakubu I. Lemu, currently prosecuting the case, told the court that the multiple rapes resulted in pregnancy and the birth of a baby boy four months ago, adding that the act contravenes section 257 of the Kaduna State Penal Code.
He said: “According to the FIR on 27th October, 2024 at 6.30 pm, one Usman Yusuf reported that he discovered that his younger sister, Fatima Maikanti, was six months pregnant. He said, when questioned, she revealed that at different locations, at different times the suspects lured her to their various places in the village and had sexual intercourse with her, as a result, she became pregnant and was delivered of a baby boy.
“Investigation revealed that each of the suspects had sexual intercourse with the victim at different locations which contravened section 257 of the Kaduna State Penal Code.”
Justice Abubakar Lamido, who is handling the matter, said the court is waiting for advice from the Ministry of Justice and ordered the suspects to be remanded at the correctional centre pending the transfer of the case to the High Court.
He adjourned the matter to May 22, 2025 for mention.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, while vowing that the government would pursue the case until justice is served, added: “The victim was raped continuously when she was 14-years-old after which she became pregnant. Now she has a baby that she cannot take care of because she is also a baby and too small to handle a child.
“The Kaduna State government also has laws that protect women and children and even vulnerable people, the Child Protection and Social Welfare and the Violence Against Persons (VAP) laws as well as the sex offender registry where we register the names of offenders to serve as a deterrent to others. The case is pathetic, both the victim’s parents are blind and she also has one eye.
“The girl has given birth now to a child of four months old, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that was handling the case and now retired had silence the case, but with the help of the Commissioner of Police (CP), the case has been reopened as a fresh case because the incident happened over a year now and she has a four month old child.
“The former DPO arrested them and also released them on bail, capital offence is not supposed to be granted bail that is why we reopened the case as a fresh case to re -arrest them. We that the Commissioner of Police and his team for their quick action of re-arresting the suspects.
“The State will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure the victim gets justice. The government will take care of the social welfare of the child and the mother because she is also a child, so they are going to be under our care for their social protection.”
Rabi warned the general public that the government will not tolerate any act of abuse, torture and molestation of women, children and especially, people living with disability.
