Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following what the agency described as a high-level, coordinated operation by officers of its Special Operations Unit.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi said the suspect’s arrest ended a prolonged manhunt linked to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

According to the statement, Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the United Kingdom and convicted for drug trafficking.

He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.

Babafemi added that the suspect was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 over drug-related offences.

He said, “He was granted administrative bail but jumped jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria.

“Typical of a recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area country home in Imo State and at his No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close, Lagos residence where officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.

“He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, after which he jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.”

Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing war against drug trafficking networks.

Marwa said the operation demonstrated the agency’s resolve to track down criminal elements regardless of how long they evade the law.

He said, “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice.

“Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.

“We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.”

Marwa also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism and persistence in tracking down the suspect.

He added that the agency would continue to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and international cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.

The post NDLEA Ends 15-Year Hunt for Alleged Drug Lord in Lagos first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post NDLEA Ends 15-Year Hunt for Alleged Drug Lord in Lagos appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations against the defendants.

Kyari was arraigned alongside his two brothers, who were accused of swearing to false affidavits in an alleged attempt to conceal the origin of certain properties.

However, the court ruled that the anti-drug agency failed to establish that the properties allegedly not declared by Kyari were actually owned by him.

Justice Omotosho explained that ownership of landed property could be established through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession by connection.

According to the judge, the prosecution did not present any of these forms of evidence to prove that the properties located at Fountain Estate in Karsana, said to belong to Ramatu Kyari, were owned by the suspended police officer.

The court also held that the prosecution failed to produce material evidence linking Kyari to properties located on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, as well as properties in Maiduguri, Borno State.

In his defence, Kyari maintained that the properties in Borno State belonged to his late father, who bequeathed them to him and his siblings.

The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove otherwise.

Justice Omotosho also faulted the prosecution for charging Kyari’s brothers with conspiracy, describing the allegation as unsubstantiated.

He described the NDLEA’s case as weak and lacking credible evidence, adding that the defendant had served the country well and should not be subjected to persecution.

The post Court Acquits Suspended DCP  Kyari, Faults NDLEA Over Weak Evidence first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Court Acquits Suspended DCP  Kyari, Faults NDLEA Over Weak Evidence appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The Cross River State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Maurice Ogbonna, has been found dead in a hotel room in Calabar.

Ogbonna, who only assumed duty in the state in August 2025, was discovered lifeless on Thursday morning by his officers, who had gone to pick him up for a scheduled assignment.

Spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, Irene Ugbo-Obase, confirmed the incident, saying an investigation had commenced to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Friday, explained that the commander was expected to lead his men for an operation by 10 a.m. on Thursday but was unresponsive to calls and knocks on his hotel door.

He said, “Attempts by the hotel staff to open or force the door from outside failed, after which one of the attendants had to go through the ceiling aperture to gain access and open the door from inside, where they found the commander’s lifeless body.”

Babafemi added that the police were immediately alerted, with the Commissioner of Police in the state personally visiting the scene.

Reacting, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commiserated with the family of the deceased senior officer.

Babafemi quoted Marwa as saying that the report of the death reached him in Borno State, where he was attending a retreat for heads of agencies organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

He said Marwa had directed the Zonal Commander, Zone 14, ACGN Mathew Ewah, to relocate to Calabar to assist police investigation.

While consoling the bereaved family, Marwa described Ogbonna as a committed officer who had been “up and doing” since assuming duty in the state.

The post Shock as NDLEA commander found dead in Calabar hotel first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Shock as NDLEA commander found dead in Calabar hotel appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday, revealing that the confiscated drugs included a staggering 3.5 million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup.

According to the statement, a joint operation by NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service officers on April 29 led to the interception of the codeine-laden container at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State. The container had been under surveillance prior to the operation.

On the same day, NDLEA operatives recovered 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid from a suspect identified as Olarenwaju Wahab in the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo, Lagos. Further investigations traced the origin of the consignment to a residence at Q104B, Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, belonging to one Obinna Kenneth, who is currently on the run.

In another major bust, anti-narcotics officers intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at the import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The 20kg of cannabis was cleverly concealed in tins labeled as chocolate, milo beverage, and various types of kidney beans. The packages were part of a cargo shipment that arrived on a British Airways flight from Canada.

Babafemi confirmed that the agency has also intensified operations in other parts of the country, targeting drug traffickers and dismantling their networks.

The NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse, urging the public to support the agency’s efforts through credible information and community engagement.

The post NDLEA Seizes ₦3.4bn Worth of Drugs in Lagos, Rivers first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post NDLEA Seizes ₦3.4bn Worth of Drugs in Lagos, Rivers appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of cocaine ingeniously concealed within prayer beads and locally made shoes, foiling an attempt to traffic the illicit substance.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, revealing that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.

Babafemi, who shared images of the seized contraband on X (formerly Twitter), condemned the act, especially in the holy month when religious devotion takes precedence.

“In this holy month, when people are consecrating themselves and making supplications to their God, some persons were preoccupied with concealing cocaine in prayer beads and locally made shoes to desecrate the precincts of the holy land in the holy month,” he stated.

He further noted that vigilant NDLEA operatives intercepted the illicit shipment, preventing the traffickers from executing their plan.

The anti-narcotics agency has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, especially methods that exploit religious items and sacred periods to evade detection.

As investigations continue, the NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to curbing drug-related crimes and ensuring that traffickers face the full weight of the law.

The post NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Concealed in Prayer Beads, Locally Made Shoes first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Concealed in Prayer Beads, Locally Made Shoes appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Some state governments in Nigeria have embraced the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) advocacy for mandatory drug tests for political appointees and employees, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, has said.

Babafemi made this known on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine on Monday.

“It’s an advocacy move and that has been going on since 2021. Quite a number of state governments are already making this a policy in their states to ensure that whoever goes for an elective position or whoever is appointed to the state government undergoes drug tests. That is going on,” he said.

He clarified that while the policy is not legally binding, the agency continues to encourage stakeholders to adopt it voluntarily.

NDLEA’s Crackdown on Drug Barons

Babafemi also revealed that NDLEA has successfully prosecuted several politicians involved in drug-related crimes.

“In the last four years, from our records, about 65 barons, including former public office holders, have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted, without mentioning anybody’s name to stigmatise them,” he stated.

According to him, some of those prosecuted had held local government chairmanship positions, while several high-profile individuals are still undergoing trial.

Drug Testing Expands to Employers, Schools, and Marriage

The NDLEA’s advocacy has gained traction beyond politics, as employers and tertiary institutions are incorporating drug tests into their admission and recruitment processes.

“This is going on not only at the level of politics or those seeking employment but also at the level of our young ones—those going into tertiary institutions—to ensure that they also undergo this test,” Babafemi explained.

Furthermore, the agency is advocating for mandatory drug tests for prospective couples, with traditional and religious institutions beginning to adopt the initiative.

With the NDLEA’s continued push under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), Babafemi expressed optimism that more sectors would implement drug testing as a tool to curb illicit substance abuse across Nigeria.

The post State Governments Embrace NDLEA’s Drug Test Advocacy for Appointees – Babafemi first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post State Governments Embrace NDLEA’s Drug Test Advocacy for Appointees – Babafemi appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

A Nigerian businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone an exploratory laparotomy to remove 57 out of 81 cocaine pellets that had been lodged in his stomach for seven days after ingesting them in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Igbokwe was arrested on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

A body scan conducted by NDLEA operatives confirmed the presence of illicit substances in his system, leading to his immediate detention for excretion observation.

Failed Beirut Trip Exposed Drug Trafficking Attempt

Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, who claimed to be a clothing trader at Arena Market, Oshodi, Lagos, traveled from Lagos to Addis Ababa on January 22. On January 23, he ingested 81 wraps of cocaine before boarding a flight to Beirut, Lebanon, where he was expected to deliver the consignment in exchange for $3,000.

However, upon arrival in Beirut, Lebanese authorities denied him entry for failing to meet the minimum cash requirement of $2,000, leading to his deportation back to Addis Ababa. While in Ethiopia, he attempted to excrete the illicit drugs but was unsuccessful.

Medical Emergency Leads to Surgery

On January 25, Igbokwe flew back to Lagos with the drugs still inside him but was apprehended by NDLEA officers upon arrival the following day.

After five days in custody, he only expelled 24 pellets, prompting medical intervention at the NDLEA’s medical facility and later at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

With time running out and worsening health conditions, Igbokwe was admitted for exploratory laparotomy on January 30, following consent from his wife and brother. The surgery successfully removed the remaining 57 pellets of cocaine.

Babafemi confirmed that NDLEA operatives recovered all 81 pellets, weighing 1.943 kilograms, from the suspect.

The post Businessman Undergoes Surgery to Remove 57 Cocaine Pellets Stuck in Stomach first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Businessman Undergoes Surgery to Remove 57 Cocaine Pellets Stuck in Stomach appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The arrest took place on January 1, 2025, at her mansion located at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

According to a statement signed by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Alhaja Ajoke’s true identity had been shrouded in mystery for years, despite her alleged role as a key figure in a drug cartel operating from Mushin, Lagos.

The operation began when NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Isuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis. The truck was reportedly driven by one of her staff members, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

Following the interception, the operatives stormed her residence and arrested her.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for the success of the operation.

He praised their efforts in reducing both drug supply and demand across the country, emphasizing that such operational successes were crucial to the agency’s mission.

“The balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction by our operatives continues to yield commendable results,” Marwa stated.

Alhaja Ajoke, who is well-known in social circles, has been on the NDLEA’s wanted list for years for her alleged leadership role in the drug trade. Her arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s fight against drug trafficking in Lagos and beyond.

Investigations are ongoing, and the NDLEA has vowed to ensure that justice is served.

The post NDLEA Arrests Filmmaker, Businesswoman for Alleged Drug Offenses on New Year’s Day first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post NDLEA Arrests Filmmaker, Businesswoman for Alleged Drug Offenses on New Year’s Day appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has officially relocated its headquarters to a new facility in Jahi, Abuja, marking a significant step in its transformation into a modern and result-oriented anti-narcotics organization.

The first phase of the new headquarters project was unveiled on Wednesday during an interdenominational service held at the complex. The event highlighted the progress made in the development of the facility, which is expected to be completed with the 2025 budgetary provisions.

Speaking at the ceremony, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the move as a milestone in the agency’s modernization efforts that began in January 2021.

“I’m glad we have finally moved in to occupy this facility after initial budgetary constraints. Even though this is the first phase of the new headquarters project, we are hopeful that we will complete the process with next year’s budget,” Marwa said.

He acknowledged that while the new headquarters is not yet 100% complete, it is sufficiently functional to host critical operations.

“I was determined to move in before the end of 2024. With the expansion of the agency, the old headquarters could no longer accommodate our growing workforce. This relocation allows us to consolidate our operations for greater efficiency, effectiveness, and seamless coordination.”

Marwa added that the old office in Gimbiya, Garki, will now serve as the headquarters annex. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support of the agency’s mission to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

“The support from international partners, local stakeholders, and especially President Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary, motivates us to do more. I believe this new work environment will inspire the team to surpass past achievements,” Marwa stated.

He also commended his predecessor for initiating the headquarters project.

In his remarks, NDLEA Secretary Shadrach Haruna praised Marwa’s transformative leadership, noting that the agency had achieved significant milestones over the past three years.

“The commissioning of our headquarters today is part of the well-laid agenda for repositioning the NDLEA. Under the chairman’s leadership, the agency has increased its staff strength from 5,000 to 15,000, addressed outstanding promotions and allowances, supported widows of fallen officers, and witnessed the recent amendment of the NDLEA Act by the National Assembly,” Haruna said.

Christian and Islamic prayers were offered for President Tinubu and Nigeria, while a commemorative plaque was unveiled to mark the occasion.

The post NDLEA Moves Operations to Newly Built Facility in Abuja first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post NDLEA Moves Operations to Newly Built Facility in Abuja appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended an 80-year-old grandfather, Aremu Shojobi, for possession of 14 kilograms of cannabis.

The arrest was made by the Lagos State Strategic Command of the Agency last Friday, at Shojobi’s residence in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

According to Babafemi, during questioning, the octogenarian confessed to being involved in the illicit drug trade for the past 25 years.

Shojobi further revealed that he sources his cannabis supply from the Republic of Benin and operates from his home, selling to customers daily between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The agency has intensified its efforts to curb the illicit drug trade, and Shojobi’s arrest is seen as part of their ongoing crackdown on drug dealers in Lagos and beyond.

The post 25 Years of Drug Dealing Ends As NDLEA Arrests 80-Year-Old Grandfather first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post 25 Years of Drug Dealing Ends As NDLEA Arrests 80-Year-Old Grandfather appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.