The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested the founder and General Overseer of Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly, Lagos State, High Priest Nnodu Kenrick, a student of Emmanuel College of Theology, Samanda, Ibadan, Oyo State, Udezuka Udoka and their freight agent, Mary Obasi, over alleged attempts to export methamphetamine and skunk to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said the suspects concealed the consignments in kegs of palm oil.
Babafemi said Nnodu was arrested on February 11 at his church on No 1, Sabbath Close, Ijesha area of Lagos, following the arrest of Mary Obasi and Udoka on February 9, at the Lagos Airport, in connection with the seizure of 283 parcels of skunk weighing 14.90 kilograms and 204 grams of methamphetamine concealed in four 25-litre kegs of palm oil for export to Dubai.
According to the statement, Mary indicted Nnodu and his son, Chisom Obi, who is now at large, as persons who gave her the consignments for export after being compelled to take an oath of secrecy and a sacrifice of chicken in the church, while Nnodu prayed for a success of the transaction.
The statement reads: “Mary said the cleric and his son used threats to compel her to take the job after they knew she was privy to their secrets. According to her, Nnodu was always referring to the illicit drugs as ice and Bible, (street names for methamphetamine and cannabis) in their telephone chats. Udezuka was introduced to Mary to assist her because she was new in the business. Udezuka said he was paid N2 million for his role and had to do it because he needed the money for his education.
“Another attempt to send a consignment of skunk and tramadol (225mg) to the UAE by a Dubai-returnee, Nnamani Innocent, was also frustrated following his arrest at Trade Fair complex in Ojo area of Lagos, where he had gone with his friend, Nwanana Emmanuel Ikechukwu, to process the consignment for export on February 7.
“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives attached to the SAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport same day intercepted a cargo going to London, United Kingdom. In the consignment containing food items packed in a carton, the four walls of the carton were used to conceal 1.10 kilograms of methamphetamine while the freight agent, Agholor Emmanuel, who presented the cargo for export was immediately arrested.
“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 7th Feb intercepted a consignment of 1,340 kilograms of cannabis sativa coming from Ogbese, Ondo state in a liquified natural gas truck to Okurikang Okoyong in Odukpani LGA, Cross River State. Following credible intelligence, the movement was monitored for three weeks and upon arrival, 130 bags of cannabis weighing 1.430 tons were recovered from the LNG truck and 13 motorcycles which were hired by the cartel to convey the consignment deep into the forest.
“In Kano, four suspects: Ado Shuaibu; Yahaya Shuaibu; Mamman Sani and Umar Musa Yakubu were arrested in connection with the seizure of 229 blocks of skunk weighing 131.1kgs. While Umar was arrested on Tuesday 7th Feb at Tumfafi village, Kano, the trio of Ado, Yahaya and Mamman were nabbed on Saturday 11th Feb at Garin Balarabe, Maigatari, Jigawa state in a follow up operation. Another suspect, Aisha Muhammad was arrested in Koki area of Kano with 17kgs cannabis.
“No fewer than four members of a syndicate using dispatch motorcycles to distribute illicit drugs in Lekki area of Lagos were arrested on Sunday 5th Feb. They include: Tijani Oladapo Hakeem; Eric Maku; Ahmed Jubril Olamide and Adobi Fortune Chris. At the time of their arrest, 1.88kgs of Loud and assorted paraphernalia were recovered from them.
“While 79.1kgs skunk were seized during a raid in Patey area of Lagos Island on Tuesday 7th Feb by NDLEA operatives, a total of 2,370.06 kilograms of cannabis and two boats seized at a jetty in Lagos by men of Civil Defence Corps were handed over to the Lagos command of the Agency.
“In his reaction to the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers, men and women of the MMIA, Cross River, Kano, and Lagos commands for their commitment and professionalism towards ridding Nigeria of the menace of illicit drugs. He said the Agency will continue to target anyone or group involved in the criminal trade without fear or favour while urging all NDLEA officers across the country to remain unrelenting in the pursuit of the corporate goal.”
