EFCC arrests 2 men with 556 ATM cards and travellers’ cheques

  

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, has arrested 2 men identified as Jonathan Odu Isikwei and Paschal Onuora Udeh with 108 ATM cards and 448 travelers' cheques.

Jonathan Odu Isikwei was found with 448 travelers’ cheques, while Pascal Onuora Udeh, 34, was arrested with 108 ATM cards on his way to China.

A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren stated: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign one Jonathan Odu Isikwei for unlawful possession of 448 travelers’ Cheques.

“Isikwei 51, a native of Igbodo in Aniocha local government area of Delta State, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, by the Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during the outward clearance of passengers on a Belgium- bound flight.

Another Arik staff arrested for drug trafficking, says they concealed cocaine in food supplies

An Arik air catering loader, Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver (pictured above) has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, for being an accomplice to Chika Egwu, another staff of the airline who was on Monday Aug. 24 arrested at London's Heathrow airport with 20kg of cocaine worth N100 million.

Chika Egwu

A statement from NDLEA says Oliver, 35, was found to have undermined airport security by concealing cocaine in catering supplies. Oliver, an indigene of Abia state and a graduate of Business Administration, will place the banned substances into meal packs meant for the passengers and then will transfer the substance to Chika while onboard. 

The statement quotes Oliver as saying 

“It was Chika that introduced me into the drug deal. Whenever Chika gives me the drug, I will hide it in catering supplies. Chika knows where to collect the drug inside the flight. They pay me N400,000 per bag. I was expecting N1.2m for the three bags that I smuggled into the aircraft.”.

The statement further stated that the 20kg of cocaine found with Chika in London was concealed within the construction of laptop bags. 

"The quantity and estimated street value of the cocaine is over N100m. The latest Range Rover (Land Rover) car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit. As part of investigation, the rented apartment of Chika on Pastor Ojediran Street Ejigbo, Lagos was searched by operatives of the NDLEA. He lives there with the mother and siblings while his wife and children are based in Canada.”.

Meanwhile NDLEA Chief Executive Officer, Ahmadu Giade, has instructed that henceforth, all airport workers must be screened before coming into the airport. 

EFCC identifies owner of $2.1m seized cash

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) yesterday said it had traced about $2.1million (N413million) seized at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to a former Executive Secretary of a federal parastatal.The commission said it might be forced to declare the man wanted if he does not show up for questioning. 

The agency said all attempts to locate the man in Lagos and Abuja proved futile.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on July 3 arrested a bureau de change operator, Mr. Ibiteye John Bamidele,(above) at MMA Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos with the cash.

The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Bamidele was arrested by anti-narcotic officials, who suspected that the cash was to be laundered.

Photo: Drug baron apprehended in Lagos

A 37-year-old man, Sylvester Chukwunwendu (pictured above) who runs a notorious drug syndicate in Nigeria has been apprehended by the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA. Parading the suspect before newsmen in Lagos, the National Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said Sylvester, who runs a methamphetamine production laboratory in his house at in the Ajao Estate, Isolo area of Lagos, was arrested at Ozubulu in Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State following a tip off.

“The Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the agency has concluded a model investigation of an international Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO), after 13 months intense surveillance on the suspect before he was finally arrested.". Mr Giade said

Two Young Nigerians Get 55 Years Jail Term In Enugu (Pictured)

A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, has sentenced two drug traffickers to fifty-five years in jail.

One of the convicts, Deborah Okafor, a 30-year-old professional dancer, was charged with conspiracy, trafficking and unlawful possession of 3.450kg of amphetamine, while the other, Iheme Onyemauchechukwu, was charged with trafficking and unlawful importation of 9.975kg of heroin. They were both arrested at the Enugu airport.

A statement by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said Okafor would have been paid the sum of $3,500 if she successfully made her trip to Malaysia.

Senator Buruji Kashamu Seated in The Senate Chamber

The Embattled Senator Elect Buruji Kashamu was pictured seated at the Senate chambers observing proceedings for the election of Deputy Senate president this morning. His colleagues cheered and clapped for him when he stepped forward to cast his vote.

A federal high court has re-affirmed its earlier order not to arrest or extradite the Ogun East senator-elect Kasamu Buruji.

Kashamu Hid In Toilet For 6 Days During NDLEA House Raid - Lawyer

A Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, wanted by the United States government for alleged drug offences, hid in his apartment’s toilet in Lagos for six days as Nigerian anti-narcotic agents raided his home and placed him under house arrest two weeks ago, his lawyer said Thursday.

The lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, told a federal court in Lagos that Mr. Kashamu remained in hiding while 20 masked operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency took over his bedroom.

Mr. Oluyede said despite an earlier ruling of the court that the NDLEA lift its siege on Mr. Kashamu’s home, the agency only withdrew its personnel after he was compelled to sign an undertaking.

‘’The only reason they left was because I signed an undertaking,” Mr. Oluyede said. “My client was 

in a toilet for six days with 20 masked armed men in his bedroom. So, I signed the undertaking before they left. They should not claim to have obeyed the order of the court.”

Mr. Kashamu’s lawyer urged the court to nullify any warrant of arrest that might have been obtained by the NDLEA from any source in an attempt to extradite his client.

The judge, Ibrahim Bubba, ‎ordered the Attorney General of Nigeria, the NDLEA not to take any further action to extradite Mr. Kashamu to the United States, until the proceedings before him are determined.

Repeating his earlier orders, Justice Buba said ‘’at the expense of being repetitive, the defendants who are alleged contemnor are once again ordered not to do anything that will undermine the suit before the court. It is the duty of all parties to obey the order of court’’.

‘’Therefore, counsel should note that the motion to set aside the orders of court and the main application has not been argued. So the court has to adjourn this matter in order for parties to be served appropriately so that justice can be done,” he stated.

He said the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction subsists until they are set aside.

He said whether the orders were made rightly or wrongly, parties are bound by that order of the court no matter how perverse the order may seem to be.

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Justice Buba therefore adjourned the suit to June 19 for hearing of contempt proceedings against the former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade.