News
NDLEA Intercepts Container Load of Tramadol in Apapa Port
..A.Indian, 89 Nigerians in Lagos raids
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted a container load of Tramadal at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, just as its operatives have arrested 90 persons including an Indian during raids of some drug cartels in parts of Lagos where a total of 614.396 kilograms of various hard drugs were seized.
At the Apapa seaport, about two million capsules of Tramadol (precisely 1,994,400 capsules) tucked in 554 cartons were intercepted in the container, which was falsely declared to contain ceramic tiles.
According to the Apapa seaport Area Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Samuel Gadzama, one of the containers bearing the illicit drug had been intercepted and seized in Kenya. “Though the second container found its way to Nigeria but the eagle eyes of our narcotic agents discovered it during a joint inspection of the ship. We’re continuing with further investigations”, he stated.
In the same vein, operatives of the Lagos state Command of the Agency has raided some drug spots in Agege, Ikorodu, Lekki, Okokomaiko and other parts of the state and dismantled major drug syndicates, arrested suspects and seized large quantities of hard drugs.
During the raids, a total of 90 suspects including an Indian were arrested while over 614 kg of various types of drugs were seized. According to the Lagos state Commander of the Agency, Mr. Ralph Igwenagu, “the breakdown of the seizures is as follows: Cannabis Sativa 577.020 kg; Cocaine 0.183kg, Heroine 0.003 kg, Tramadol 36.202kg (7,697) tablets, Rohypnol 0.208kg (646) tablets, Diazapam 0.462kg (2066) tablets, Exol-5 0.52kg (316) tablets, making a total of 614.396kg of different types of hard drugs seized.”
One of the drug syndicates busted during the raids is co-ordinated by one Samuel Ebenezer in Lekki whose cartel imports special sophisticated drugs baked in cakes, biscuits and cookies from the United States and sells to the rich and affluent people in Lekki and Lagos Island.
The second syndicate is co-ordinated by an Indian, Inderpreet Singh, alias Bobby that imports Tramadol 225mg from India and sells in Nigeria from his Osy Agomo Close, Apple Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. Mr. Singh is also a dealer in tricycle parts and the Managing Director of Rashaan Trading Ltd. Arrested with him is a Nigerian, one Sylvester Omoredien.
In his reaction to the Apapa seaport seizure and Lagos raids, Chairman/ Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd commended the Commanders, men and officers of the Commands involved in the operations for their efforts even as he charged them to remain focussed on the maxim of his leadership, that is, offensive action against illicit drug users, peddlers, traffickers and the barons.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.
This was contained in a press statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP on Thursday.
The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:
“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”
The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has queried the continued stay in office of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
Recently, many party members have raised concerns about the ongoing tenure of Damagum and Anywanwu in their respective positions.
Previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagum assumed the role of acting National Chairman following the court’s suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the preceding year.
With the National Secretary being selected as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, the South zone has been grappling with nominating a replacement. Despite this, he, along with other party leaders, contested and retained the position of party secretary after losing to Governor Hope Uzodinnma.
The Punch
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a three-count charge against Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira at a social event, in violation of the provisions of Central Bank Act of 2007.
Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Reports say the charge against Okechukwu was filed on April 4, 2024 by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.
In Count 1, it was alleged, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In Count 3, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
This is coming days after the EFCC secured the conviction controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, on similar charges. He was subsequently sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.
