NDLEA arrests top Lagos preacher, members for drug trafficking

Mr Babafemi added that Mr Nnodu was arrested on February 1 at his Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly Church.

News Agency of Nigeria • February 12, 2023

General Overseer of Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly, Lagos, Nnodu Azuka Kenrick and NDLEA

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted the founder and General Overseer of Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly, Lagos, Nnodu Azuka Kenrick, for alleged drug trafficking.

The spokesperson for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said Udoka Udezuka, a student of Emmanuel College of Theology, Samonda, Ibadan, and their freight agent, Mary Obasi, were arrested over an attempt to export methamphetamine and skunk consignments.

He said the drugs were concealed in kegs of palm oil through the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Mr Babafemi added that Mr Nnodu was arrested on February 1 at his Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly Church at No 1, Sabbath Close, Ijesha area of Lagos, following the arrest of the two suspects.

He said the suspects, Ms Obasi and Mr Udezuka, were arrested on February 9 at the Lagos airport in connection with the seizure of 283 parcels of skunk.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs weighed 14.90 kilogrammes and 204 grams of methamphetamine concealed in four 25-litre kegs of palm oil for export to Dubai.

“In her statement, Mary indicted the General Overseer of her new-found church, Nnodu and his son, Chisom Obi, who is now at large, as the persons that gave her the consignments for export.

“She said this was after being compelled to take an oath of secrecy as well as a sacrifice of chicken in the church while High Priest Nnodu prayed for her for the success of the transaction,” he said.

Mr Babafemi said that the suspect, spilling the beans on how her church GO recruited her, said the clergyman and his son threatened her to take the job after they knew she had known their secrets.

He also said that Mr Nnodu always referred to the illicit drugs as Ice and Bible (Street names for Methamphetamine and Cannabis) in their telephone text message chats.

“The theology student, Udezuka, was introduced to Mary to assist her because she was new in the illicit business.

“Udezuka said he was paid N2 million for his role and had to do it because he needed the money for his education,” he said.

(NAN)

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