One Okenwa Chris Nzewi, a convicted drug baron, has forfeited his multi-million-naira mansion, located in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, Lagos, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, following his prosecution and conviction in court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA).
The building was used as a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine, a drug prohibited by Nigerian law. He was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, on July 30, 2022 and arraigned on four counts in charge, number FHC/L/527C/2022, at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
They both pleaded guilty on July 17, 2023, while they were convicted and sentenced to four and three years imprisonment, each, with an option of N4 million fine and N3 million, respectively, in addition to community service for four and three weeks, each.
His vehicle, marked EKY 496 DJ, was equally forfeited to the Federal Government. The agency also filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building at the Federal High Court Lagos, which initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on December 6, before the final forfeiture on December 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos, on December 5, arrested a 75-year-old grandma, Sekinat Soremekun, for dealing in illicit drugs. At the time of her arrest in the Oshodi area of Lagos, quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup were recovered from her. She claimed her son, one Segun, who is now at large, supplied her the illicit substances, which she retailed.
Also, in Imo, operatives on patrol, along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, on December 14, intercepted a way-billed consignment containing cocaine, weighing 2.287kg.
The shipment, which was coming from Lagos, was concealed in cellophane condoms, and heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Similarly, 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100kg were recovered from the ceiling of a dealer, Ibrahim Yahaya, 35, when his house was raided in the Tudun Kofa area of Lafia, Nasarawa State on December 15. Yahaya has been arrested.
