The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested and repatriated a 52-year-old fugitive, Festus Ibewuike, also known as Chidibest Ibewuike, over his alleged connection with a 49.70-kilogramme heroin consignment intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in 2024.

NDLEA disclosed that Ibewuike was arrested at an airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on September 2, 2026, following more than two years of attempts to apprehend him.
49.70kg heroin: Fugitive drug kingpin, Festus Ibewuike, arrested after years on the run
He was subsequently handed over to NDLEA operatives on September 4 through collaboration with the Nigerian and Beninese bureaux of the International Criminal Police Organisation and brought back to Nigeria to face prosecution. NigerianBusiness Directory
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NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Hard drugs impounded by NDLEA operatives

According to Babafemi, the case dates back to February 2024, when NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport intercepted 49.70kg of heroin concealed inside cartons containing metal-cutting machines at the cargo terminal’s Import Shed.

The agency described the seizure as the largest single heroin consignment it had recorded at the airport.

According to the NDLEA, the discovery followed a coordinated operation lasting 12 days and resulted in the arrest of several alleged members of the trafficking network.

Among those arrested was Ibewuike’s wife, Confidence Ndidiamaka Ibewuike, whom investigators alleged regularly received drug consignments bearing the code “ND” on behalf of her husband.

The agency said investigations into the alleged syndicate also resulted in 107 bank accounts being frozen and properties linked to the group forfeited.

The allegations against defendants who have not been convicted remain subject to determination by the courts.

Following the investigation, several suspects were arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, in Charge No. FHC/L/205C/2024.

The NDLEA disclosed that three defendants — Adinnu Felix Chinedu, Osita Emmanuel Obinna and Uzochukwu Frankline — have since been convicted and sentenced.

Three others, Chidiebere Reginald Peter, Confidence Ndidiamaka Ibewuike and Igbokwuputa Onyinye Ireene, are still standing trial, according to the agency.

Ibewuike, Osita Chidozie Cyril and a suspect identified only as Arinze were charged in absentia after they could not be apprehended at the time.

The NDLEA alleged that Ibewuike relocated to Mozambique, where he ran a hotel business while evading Nigerian law enforcement.

Investigators further claimed that he occasionally travelled between Mozambique and Nigeria through neighbouring Benin Republic.

According to the agency, intelligence about his movements eventually led to his arrest in Cotonou on September 2.

NDLEA said it subsequently worked with INTERPOL authorities in Nigeria and Benin Republic to complete the transfer of custody, with a team of its operatives travelling to Cotonou on September 4 to receive him.

During preliminary questioning following his return, the agency said the suspect confirmed his identity and disclosed that he had changed his name from Chidibest Ibewuike to Festus Ibewuike.

The NDLEA added that it took Ibewuike to its Central Exhibit Store in Ikoyi on September 5.

There, according to the agency, he identified parcels of heroin carrying the “ND” marking which investigators had linked to him.

These claims form part of the NDLEA’s investigation and would be subject to the judicial process.
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The anti-narcotics agency further said its investigation uncovered Ibewuike’s alleged association with an earlier case involving the seizure of 40.255kg of methamphetamine.
The case, Charge No. FHC/L/203C/2013, was heard before Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, the proceedings involved one Chidi Ihedioha, who was eventually convicted in 2023.
The agency did not state in its Wednesday statement that Ibewuike himself was convicted in connection with that earlier case.

Reacting to Ibewuike’s arrest, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the development as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s efforts to apprehend wanted drug suspects.

“This arrest is a major breakthrough in our resolve to track down and bring to justice every drug baron who thinks that fleeing Nigeria’s shores puts them beyond the reach of the law,” Marwa said.

He warned other suspects wanted by the agency that leaving the country would not end efforts to bring them before the courts.

“As I have always vowed, the long arm of the NDLEA will catch up with anyone involved in this illicit trade, no matter how long it takes or how far they run,” he added.

Referring specifically to the latest case, Marwa said, “Festus Ibewuike ran for over two years, hiding under a change of name and a new life abroad, but today he is back in Nigeria to answer for the 49.70kg heroin seizure linked to his network.”

He added that the arrest should serve as a warning to other wanted suspects, saying, “The Agency will not relent until every one of you is brought to book.”

Marwa also commended the cooperation between Nigerian and Beninese authorities, particularly the INTERPOL National Central Bureaus in both countries, for facilitating Ibewuike’s arrest and transfer to Nigeria.

The Enugu United Palm Products Limited (UPPL), a public-private partnership between Pragmatic Palms Limited and the Enugu State Government, has commenced commercial production of palm oil for the Nigerian market, with plans to expand into refined products and establish a new industrial complex.

The development was disclosed on Monday by the Managing Director of the company, Prof. George Nwangwu, when he led other directors of the firm to Government House, Enugu, to brief Governor Peter Mbah on the progress of the company since the commencement of its operations two years ago.

Nwangwu said the company had restored its plantations in Ibite-Olo, Umulokpa and Ugwu-Oba, located in Ezeagu, Uzo-Uwani and Oji River Local Government Areas of the state, respectively, to productive use.

According to him, the company has so far replanted over 1,000 hectares and is gradually replacing old palm trees, some of which are more than 50 years old.

“When we took over, the place was thick forest and nothing but a dead place. We came in and turned the place from being a forest into a plantation.

“We have cleared the whole place, pruned the trees that were there and started replanting. The trees we met were very old, over 50 years old, and so they needed to be replaced. Gradually, we are replacing them. So far, we’ve planted over 1,000 hectares. The idea is to keep planting until we replant the entire plantation and renew all the trees that are there,” he said.

The UPPL boss said the company was moving beyond primary agricultural production by investing in processing and value addition, noting that it had installed mills and improved the quality and volume of palm oil production.

He disclosed that the company was also investing $2.2 million in a refinery that would process Crude Palm Oil (CPO) into olein and stearin, while refining palm kernel oil.

“We also understand that this is a business and not just planting. Agriculture has moved beyond planting alone. We need to process because value addition is important. So, we’re milling our oil now. We’ve improved the quality and quantity of the oil that we’re producing.

“We have installed mills and also invested heavily in refining the products further down the line. We’re investing about $2.2 million to install a refinery. The refinery will not only refine our Crude Palm Oil (CPO) into olein and stearin, it will also refine our palm kernel oil,” Nwangwu said.

He added that the company was developing a new industrial complex to consolidate its production and processing operations.

Nwangwu further disclosed that the company’s palm oil brand, EVOP, had been launched and was already available in open markets and supermarkets across Nigeria, with sachet packaging expected to hit the market within two weeks.

He explained that the EVOP name was chosen to connect the product with the region’s agricultural and industrial heritage, particularly the former AVOP vegetable oil brand produced in Nachi, Udi LGA.

“We chose the name EVOP to make sure that we keep in touch with our historical foundation. Some of us who are old enough would remember AVOP vegetable oil being bottled in Nachi, Udi. We feel that this is the product of our people and we had to connect with our historical beginnings.

“That’s why we called it EVOP, to connect with and remind people of our historical AVOP,” he said.

According to him, the company’s objective is to make the product accessible to households across Nigeria while maintaining strict standards of quality, natural production and traceability.

“The important takeaway about this palm oil is that it’s natural. Our plantations are in Ibite-Olo, Umulokpa and Ugwu-Oba. You can see the trees there. If you go there, you can see where we harvest the fruit bunches, how we mill the fresh fruit bunches and how we package them.

“Everything is done in-house. Nothing is contracted. We are end-to-end, and we also have certification from NAFDAC, SON and all the relevant agencies.

“If you look at our product, you’ll see a barcode there, and you’ll also see a code that you can scan to tell you where the product is from. For us, traceability matters, and that is the fundamental advantage of our palm oil,” Nwangwu added.

He said the company’s expansion was expected to contribute to employment generation, local economic activity and the development of the state’s agricultural value chain.

Responding, Governor Mbah described the partnership between the Enugu State Government and Pragmatic Palms Limited as a model worthy of emulation, saying it demonstrated the administration’s commitment to reactivating dormant government assets for the benefit of Ndi Enugu.

He assured the company that the state government would fulfil all its obligations under the partnership and provide the necessary support to enable UPPL achieve its full potential.

Mbah also expressed support for the company’s plan to list on the Nigerian stock market within four years, saying Enugu needed companies capable of attracting public investment and creating greater value for the state.

“This is consistent with the state’s ambition, to optimise these assets and to grow them and make them big. We are talking about an investment outlay of over N100 billion, and if in four years you are targeting going to the market, we are with you on that. We will give you all support,” he said.

The governor disclosed that the state government was at the verge of awarding two major road projects to improve access to the company’s plantations, including the road from Umumba Ndiagu to Ebenebe, adding that the projects would be fast-tracked.

He also said he had directed that the headquarters of the state’s Forest Guards be located at Ibite-Olo to strengthen security around the plantation, while assuring the company that the government would address any encroachment on its acquired land.

Mbah further assured UPPL that the government would
provide the 6,700 hectares committed under the partnership and work with the company and the host communities to secure additional land if it decides to expand its target to 10,000 hectares.

He stressed the importance of maintaining transparent and credible financial records ahead of the proposed listing and said the government would hold regular briefings with the company to identify and swiftly resolve challenges.

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the maiden edition of Peter Eze Youth Connect 2026 in Enugu.

Omidiran, popularly known as Ayo Omidiran, will be the keynote speaker at the youth-focused gathering, which is expected to provide a platform for discussions on expanding opportunities, promoting inclusion and unlocking the potential of young people in Enugu State.

The programme, themed “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youths Through the Federal Character Commission,” will hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu.

Her participation is expected to bring a strong institutional perspective to the event, particularly on the role of the Federal Character Commission in promoting equitable representation and ensuring that young Nigerians have access to opportunities within the public sector and other areas of national development.

Omidiran assumed office as Executive Chairman of the FCC in January 2026 following her appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She succeeded Dr. Muheeba Dankaka and became the first person from Southern Nigeria to lead the Commission.

She is expected to speak to young people on how they can better understand and take advantage of opportunities available through government institutions, while also addressing the broader question of inclusion and representation in Nigeria.

The FCC chairman’s participation comes at a time when youth unemployment, access to opportunities and equitable representation remain important issues in the country.

The event is being hosted by Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, the FCC Commissioner representing Enugu State and Chairman of the Commission’s Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation.

Eze, an economist and public administrator, was appointed by President Tinubu and inaugurated on January 22, 2026. At 35, he is the youngest Federal Character Commissioner in Nigeria.

The Peter Eze Youth Connect 2026 will also feature a programme on “Connecting Youths in Enugu State to the European Union Market for Apiculture Products,” aimed at exposing young people to opportunities in honey production, beekeeping and access to the European Union market.

The organisers said the initiative is designed to move beyond conventional discussions on youth empowerment by connecting young people with practical opportunities for economic participation, inclusion and growth.