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NDLEA seizes cocaine, meth, codeine worth N4.1bn, arrests siblings in Aba

Published

10 months ago

June 16, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted a cartel controlled by a drug baron, 49-year-old Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi and his 50-year-old elder sister, Ms Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi, and arrested the siblings in their hideout in Aba, Abia State.

Director, Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

Babafemi added that cocaine and methamphetamine consignments worth over N4.1 billion in street value were recovered from the hideout by officers of the Special Operation Unit of the agency.

He said the special operation conducted on Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14 at 3B, Boundary Avenue, Aba and a residence along Ohia road, Ohia, Abia State followed months of intelligence gathering, leading to the arrest of the ring leaders and the combined seizure of 20.76 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine from them.

“In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Lagos state have uncovered an expansive warehouse stocked with a large consignment of codeine-based syrup, located at Comfort Oboh area of Kirikiri, where four persons connected with the importation and distribution of the opioid were arrested during an intelligence-led raid on the facility.

“Those arrested include: Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke, 38; Emeka Emmanuel, 48; Bonaventure Ugochukwu, 59; and Martin Dike, 56, while a total of 82,000 bottles of the opioid worth more than N600million in street value, Toyota Tacuma truck and two buses used for distributing the substance were recovered from the premises on Monday 10th June 2024 when NDLEA officers conducted the operation.

“Two days after, Wednesday 12th June, operatives intercepted another suspect, Ibrahim Abdulhamid with 29,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 3.9 litres of codeine syrup at Alaba Suru, Ojo local council area of the state.

“A total of 230,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg were recovered from the duo of Yasir Rabiu, 23, and Abubakar Ado, 30, who are major distributors of illicit drugs in Kano and Jigawa states, when they were arrested on Monday 10th June at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano.

“In the same vein, another suspect, Hassan Abdullahi Ali, 25, was nabbed with 150 bottles of codeine syrup at Kofar Nassarawa area of Kano on Tuesday 11th June.

“In Ogun state, NDLEA operatives on Monday 10th June seized 390kg of cannabis and arrested the trio of Muhammad Sani, Nura Mohammad and Samaila Rabe during an early morning raid at Ibese area of the state, while officers on Wednesday 12th June busted a skuchies making factory at Sabo area of Shagamu town where seven suspects were arrested.

“They include Kareem Jamiu; Oriyimi Ayo; Bamidele Wasiu; Rasheed Olarewanju; Ramota Lawal; Amudalat Olarewanju; and Adeniyi Omotosho.

“Exhibits recovered from them include 387 litres of skuchies; 70 litres of industrial codeine; 25kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, as well as various equipment used in the production of the new psychoactive substance,” the statement reads in part.

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2027: Approach Peter Obi to return – Dan Ulasi tells PDP leadership

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Peter Obi

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The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman in Anambra State, Dan Ulasi, has suggested that the party should approach ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi to return back to the party.

Obi was PDP presidential running mate in the 2019 election which the party lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

During the 2023 presidential election, the former Anambra State governor had dumped the PDP for LP.

Under LP, Obi ran for the Presidency as the party’s flag bearer but he came third behind the winner, President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Lately there have been claims of disintegration within the PDP with former presidential running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and more governors are also said to be planning their defection from the party.

Prior to their defection, Atiku and Obi had formed a coalition with other opposition personalities with the aim of ousting Tinubu out of power in 2027.

The PDP Governors Forum, however, vowed that the party will never join Atiku’s coalition.

However, Ulasi said Obi is a better choice should the former ruling party decides to build and consider its future.

Featuring on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Ulasi said: “Peter Obi is a factor of progress. In the last presidential election, he had over six million votes so if there are no inordinate ambitious people in PDP who don’t want to be overshadowed or position alluded, Obi is somebody the party should openly approach.

“We are talking about leadership for better government of Nigeria and not better person for Nigeria, not better party for Nigeria.

“There are individuals who have the characteristics of performance, who have integrity and honour. And Obi is one of the very few in this country with such qualities.

“So, if the party decides to approach him and solicit my advice, I have enough contacts and relationship with Obi to convince him on why it’s necessary for us to come together to stop the menace that is going on in Abuja presently.

“It will be shameful for PDP governors – for reasons best known to them to dump the party for APC – I want to see them in a press conference telling what are their achievements after eight years as governors.”

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Akpabio leads Nigerian delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Senate passes 2024 budget, raises appropriation by N1.2tn

Senate President Godswill Akpabio

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Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is heading a high-level Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, in Vatican City on Saturday.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.

Tinubu sent the five-member delegation, which also includes the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.

The statement added, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.

“On Monday, President Tinubu joined the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide to mourn the death of Pope Francis, who he described as ‘a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.’”

Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.

Tinubu added that the Pope’s death, coming after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.

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Armed herders hijack buses, kidnap 19 passengers in Benue

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

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No fewer than 19 passengers travelling in two commercial buses were abducted on Thursday morning by suspected armed herdsmen in Jor community, along the Adoka-Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

The buses were ambushed in two separate but closely timed incidents along the same location, roughly three kilometres from Naka, the Gwer West LGA headquarters.

One of the vehicles was headed to Makurdi from Ankpa, Kogi State, while the other was travelling to Lokoja from Makurdi when they both ran into the ambush.

The Ter Tyoshin and chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, confirmed the attacks.

“I was told that each vehicle had about 12 passengers on board. However, an elderly woman, a nursing mother with her two children, and one of the drivers were not taken,” he said.

These spared individuals reportedly alerted authorities at the Naka Police Station shortly after the incident. They have since been released by the police.

The Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, High Level Unit, Yakubu Onu, which oversees the main transport park operating on the route, also confirmed the abduction.

“The surviving passengers made their way to the police station and were later allowed to continue their journey,” he said.

“We are still awaiting updates from our members coming from Ankpa and have not heard from the kidnapped victims.”