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Sunday, December 17, 2023

NDLEA seizes convicted baron’s mansion, arrests grandma for illicit drug sales in Lagos

The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the seizure followed Mr Okenwa’s conviction by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

• December 17, 2023
VGC METH LABORATORY PREMISES
VGC METH LABORATORY PREMISES [CREDIT; NAN]

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a multi-million-naira mansion in the Lekki area of Lagos used for producing methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Nzewi Okenwa.

The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, said the seizure followed Mr Okenwa’s conviction by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court. 

He said Mr Okenwa was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Ukah, on July 30 and subsequently arraigned on a four-count charge. 

Mr Babafemi added that the court convicted and sentenced the two to four and three years’ imprisonment with an option of N4 million and N3 million fine, respectively.

He said this was in addition to community service for four and three weeks each and the forfeiture of Mr Okenwa’s  vehicle, marked EKY 496 DJ, to the federal government.

“To further deny him of enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as a clandestine laboratory at the Federal High Court Lagos.

“It initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on December 6 before the final forfeiture on December 7,” he said.

Meanwhile, Me Babafemi said NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday arrested a 75-year-old grandmother, Sekinat Soremekun, for dealing in illicit drugs.

He said the woman was arrested in the Oshodi area of Lagos in possession of quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup.

“She claimed her son, Segun, who is now at large, supplied her the illicit substances which she retailed,” he added.

Mr Babafemi said the NDLEA had intensified the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign in schools, markets, worship, and other public places nationwide.

(NAN)

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