Convicted Drug Baron Forfeits VGC Mansion, Jeep to FG

A multi-million naira secret laboratory mansion for the production of methamphetamine by 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. 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-count 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.

To further deny him enjoyment of proceeds of crime, the NDLEA is 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 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 of 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.