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N4.4billion worth cocaine seized at Lagos airport as NDLEA grills 30 suspects

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Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant bust at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, seizing 18.72 kilograms of cocaine worth N4.492 billion. The drugs were hidden in two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft arriving from Addis Ababa.

The NDLEA has arrested at least 30 suspects in connection with the seizure and is investigating the international drug syndicate operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

Additionally, the NDLEA has thwarted attempts to export cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol to Australia, the UAE, and the UK, concealed in body cream containers and artwork.

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N4.4billion worth cocaine seized at Lagos airport as NDLEA grills 30 suspects

Intercepts UK, UAE, Australia-bound cocaine, cannabis, tramadol concealed in body cream containers, art work


The bid by members of an international drug syndicate that operates between Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria to smuggle into Lagos a total of 845 wraps of cocaine weighing 18.72 kilograms has been thwarted and the consignments recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.

The drug consignments worth Four Billion Four Hundred and Ninety-Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,492,800,000) in street value were recovered from two lavatories of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft during the post landing cleaning of the cabin of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on Tuesday 29th October 2024.

The illicit drug consignments were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft, from where they were recovered after the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA was alerted about the strange objects. No fewer than 30 suspects have so far been grilled in connection with the seizure.

Investigations revealed that the seized drugs were conveyed from Brazil to Ethiopia through ingestion and excreted in Addis Ababa by a set of couriers while some other traffickers picked them up and attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through the Lagos airport before their attempt was frustrated with the cooperation of the airline’s authorities and other airport stakeholders.

In the same vein, attempts by some drug trafficking syndicates to export 2.928kg cocaine, cannabis and tramadol 225mg concealed in body cream containers, and pieces of art work to Australia, United Arab Emirate and United Kingdom through some courier companies in Lagos were also blocked by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, on Monday 28th October.

At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 29th October intercepted 754, 000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen 225mg worth Five Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira (N525, 000,000) in a targeted and watch-listed container from India during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, a suspect Mujahid Hamisu, 24, was arrested with 147,000 pills of tramadol concealed in black nylon bags containing plumbing materials along Kwali-Gwagwalada Abuja expressway on his way from Onitsha, Anambra state on Saturday 2nd November 2024, while another suspect Seun Abimbola, 47, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives same day with 512 grams of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Giri junction area of the FCT.

In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kabba- Obajana highway arrested Mercy Ameh, 28, in a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Abuja while a search of her luggage led to the recovery of fake Naira notes worth Four Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand ,Two Hundred Naira (₦ 4,353,200), even as another suspect Shaibu Dahiru, 27, was nabbed in a vehicle coming from Lagos to Katsina along Lokoja- Okene- Abuja road on Thursday 30th October with 68 blocks of cannabis weighing 27.400kg

A notorious drug dealer Usman Abba (alias Timaya) who has been on the watchlist of the Katsina state command of NDLEA was on Wednesday 30th October arrested at Liberty Hotel, Kofar Kaura with consignments of Arizona, a strain of cannabis. Same day, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa arrested a suspect Augustine Dike, 31, with 50.3 grams of methamphetamine at Quarisa Hotel, Jimeta.

In Taraba, operatives on Friday 1st November arrested Danlami Fakwa, 46, at Sabon Gari, Jalingo LGA, with 49.795kg cannabis, while a total of 561kg of same substance was recovered from a Sienna bus at Ogbese village in Ondo state on Monday 28th October.

A suspect Kabiru Yusuf, 25, was on Saturday 2nd October arrested in possession of 51,813 pills of tramadol and exol 5 at NDA Bus Stop, Kaduna, just as raids in Edo state led to the seizure of 603.6kg cannabis at Farm road, Ekiadolor and 308.4kg of same substance at Uroe community.

Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week. Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Sanganare, Adamawa; students of College of Arts and Islamic Studies, Tungan Magajiya, Niger state; students and staff of Regina Catholic International College, Obehie, Abia state; students and teachers of Akinmorin Grammar School, Oyo, Oyo state; as well as students and teachers of Redeemer’s International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Apapa, Kogi, FCT, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters Abuja

Sunday 3rd November 2024


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American Accuses Reno Omokri of Deception, Calls Him “Pathological Liar” as Omokri Dismisses Christian Genocide Claims

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American Accuses Reno Omokri of Deception, Calls Him Pathological Liar as Omokri Denies Christian Genocide in Nigeria
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A former Texas Mayor, Mike Arnold, has accused former Nigerian presidential aide Reno Omokri of deception and manipulation, describing him as a “pathological liar” who thrives on calculated deceit.

In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Arnold said he had witnessed Omokri’s alleged dishonesty firsthand during personal and professional encounters both in the United States and Nigeria.

“The truth about Reno Omokri is sad. I’ve seen it up close. Reno doesn’t lie like most liars. He lies calm, cool, constant. Up close, he’s reptilian. Chilling. Soulless. Yet so charming,” Arnold wrote.

Arnold, who claimed to have hosted Omokri in Texas and attended his birthday safari in Kenya, accused the former presidential aide of falsifying events, exaggerating connections, and fabricating ownership of luxury assets.

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He recounted an incident where Omokri allegedly showcased luxury cars online, falsely claiming ownership of two vehicles belonging to Arnold’s friend.

Arnold also alleged that during a fact-finding mission to Nigeria on Christian persecution, Omokri promised high-level meetings with President Bola Tinubu, NSA Nuhu Ribadu, and the Sultan of Sokoto, none of which materialized.

“Looking back, those promises were props for his narrative for clout and manipulation,” he wrote.

Arnold further accused Omokri of misrepresenting him on Nigerian television, falsely introducing him as the current mayor of Blanco, Texas, and a close associate of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

“On live TV, he called me a Republican mayor—we don’t even have partisan municipal elections. He also said I’m a personal friend of Ted Cruz. False,” Arnold stated.

Quoting Psalm 101:7, Arnold said Omokri’s actions were “soulless” and “evil,” adding that “lying to cover up the Christian genocide raging in Nigeria is a bridge too far.”

“People must know Reno Omokri is a pathological, habitual, calculating, self-serving liar from someone who knows him personally so they won’t trust his sleazy attempts to bury the blood of tens of thousands of Nigerian martyrs with the manure spewing from his mouth,” Arnold wrote.

He also accused Omokri of harboring political ambitions, claiming that he plans to run for vice president under National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Omokri, however, recently appeared on Arise News Night, dismissing reports of a Christian genocide in Nigeria as “ludicrous,” insisting that both Christians and Muslims are victims of insecurity across the country.

“Killings happen equally to Christians and Muslims,” Omokri said, urging Nigerians not to allow Western narratives to sow religious division.

The exchange has since sparked intense debate online, with many Nigerians weighing in on the authenticity of Arnold’s claims and Omokri’s controversial statements on religious persecution.

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BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu’s Ailment Not Life-Threatening – Court Adopts NMA Findings

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adopted a medical report by a panel set up by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which found that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not suffering from any life-threatening ailment.

The NMA panel, constituted by the association’s president on the order of Justice James Omotosho, was tasked with determining Kanu’s actual health condition following conflicting claims from medical experts representing both the prosecution and the defence.

According to the report submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and partly read in open court on Thursday, the panel concluded that Kanu’s condition is not life-threatening and that he is fit to stand trial.

Justice Omotosho, citing the report and noting no objections from either side, ruled that the trial would proceed.

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The judge subsequently granted the defence six consecutive days — from October 23 to October 28 — to open and close its case.

Additionally, the court approved an oral application by defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), requesting that Kanu’s legal team be allowed to hold private consultations with him outside the Department of State Services (DSS) facility to ensure confidentiality.

Justice Omotosho ruled that the private meeting will take place in the courtroom between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on October 22, with only Kanu and his lawyers present.

The court further ordered that Kanu should continue receiving medical care at the DSS medical facility pending further proceedings.

One of Kanu’s lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development after Thursday’s sitting.

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Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP with 23 Assembly Members

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Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Resigns from PDP with 23 Assembly Members

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Wednesday during a state executive council meeting in Yenagoa, accompanied by 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Abraham Ngobere and Deputy Speaker Faithful Ebi.

His Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the move, attributing it to ‘obvious reasons’ without specifics, while Diri thanked PDP supporters and reaffirmed his dedication to Bayelsa’s progress.

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Today, I have formally resigned my membership from PDP for obvious reasons.” – Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.

The defection ends the PDP’s control of the state since 1999 and hints at a potential shift to the All Progressives Congress before the 2027 elections.

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Davido Announces 5IVE Alive Tour in Five Cities in Nigeria

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Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has revealed the Nigerian dates for his 5IVE Alive Tour, linked to his fifth studio album released in April 2025, following a successful North American run.

The tour kicks off on October 26 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and includes stops in Yola, Enugu, Ibadan, culminating on December 25 in Lagos.

Tickets are now available starting at ₦5,000 for most venues, with fans urged to purchase quickly amid high demand.


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Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen

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The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, on a fresh murder charge involving the deaths of two police officers.

Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were re-arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

The case was transferred from Justice Adenike Coker, and according to the charge, Evans and his co-defendant allegedly killed two policemen, Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi, on August 27, 2013, around 10 p.m. at Festac Town, Lagos.

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The offences violate Section 221 of the Lagos Criminal Law, 2011.

At the proceedings, State Prosecutor A. O. Azeez confirmed the transfer of the case and requested a fresh arraignment despite Evans’ earlier plea bargain applications before the former judge.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count amended charge.

The court adjourned the matter to November 19, 2025, for hearing and issuance of witness summons.

Evans has already been convicted before another court and is currently serving sentences for two of his five criminal cases.

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