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Ex-Beauty Queen Wanted for Drug Trafficking Surrenders to NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a massive haul of drugs, including 31,124,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at over N17.9 billion, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State, and the Tincan Seaport in Lagos.
The seizures were made following intelligence on the shipments from India, leading to a demand for a 100 percent joint examination of the containers by the NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service, and other security agencies. Among the seized items were 350,000 bottles of codeine syrup recovered from two containers at the Tincan Port in Lagos on August 29 and 30, 2024. Each container contained 175,000 bottles of the opioid.
According to a statement by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, NDLEA operatives intercepted 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg, containing 29,840,000 pills, along with 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup from three containers on August 29. The tramadol was found under various brand names, including Royal Tapentadol, Carisoprodol 225mg, and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg.
On August 30, three more containers flagged by NDLEA were subjected to joint examination, resulting in the recovery of 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup containing 554,600 bottles. In total, the seizures at Onne and Tincan amounted to 1,284,600 bottles of codeine syrup worth N8.99 billion, while the tramadol haul was valued at N8.94 billion.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport on August 27 arrested a suspect, Eze Emekan Don, who was attempting to board a flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with 1,490 tramadol pills disguised as cosmetics in his luggage. His attempt to bribe the officers was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, a former beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas, also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye, surrendered to the NDLEA Lagos Command after eight months in hiding. She had been declared wanted by the agency in January after escaping a raid at her Lekki residence, where 606 grams of Canadian Loud (a synthetic strain of cannabis), an electronic weighing scale, and drug packaging materials were recovered.
Ms. Aderinoye, who was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of the Queen Christmas Foundation, claimed she had been hiding in Akure, Ondo State, since January before surrendering on August 28, 2024.
In other operations, NDLEA arrested Mustapha Ibrahim on August 26 in Lagos with 1,122 kilograms of cannabis. The same day, operatives recovered an additional 816 kilograms of cannabis belonging to a suspect still at large. In Niger State, a suspect, Friday Gabriel, was arrested with 1,900 tramadol capsules, 300 bottles of codeine syrup, and 600 packets of exol-5 tablets. In Bauchi State, two suspects were caught transporting 246.4 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a bus.
NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitization activities across various states, including Abia, Delta, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, and Kaduna.
Reacting to the recent seizures and arrests, NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) praised the agency’s operatives and stakeholders for their vigilance, professionalism, and balanced efforts in reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court
The counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Anambra State Government to either charge to court or release individuals allegedly detained for the past five weeks without trial.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor criticized what he described as “violations of citizens’ rights,” emphasizing that the detainees have not been presented before any court or formally charged with a crime.
“Today, March 15, 2025, marks five full weeks since several citizens of Anambra State were arbitrarily arrested and detained in a private facility controlled by the state government. Shockingly, they have not been charged with any offense or brought before any court of law. This is a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights,” Ejiofor stated.
He expressed concern that the detainees were not held by the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), or the military, but instead in an undisclosed facility, without any official explanation from the government.
Ejiofor, who has previously supported the government’s security efforts, urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
“I have always championed active citizen participation in combating insecurity and have publicly urged the government to act against criminal elements. However, this must be done legally and transparently,” he said.
While commending the efforts of the state’s Agụnechemba security outfit, Ejiofor insisted that professionalism and adherence to due process are crucial.
He reaffirmed his support for lawful measures to combat crime but warned that arbitrary detentions could erode public trust in the government’s security strategy.
The Osun State Amotekun Corps has denied allegations of nepotism in its ongoing recruitment of 1,000 cadets, following claims by some dismissed recruits that they were removed in favor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.
Some affected candidates, seen outside the NYSC camp venue in Osogbo, alleged they were removed due to their affiliation with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the group, a dismissed cadet, Usman, claimed that they had been in camp since Sunday before being replaced by PDP members, some of whom, he alleged, were unfit for training.
However, Amotekun’s Board Chairman, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wale Abass, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He explained that those removed from the training camp either failed to meet the required standards or did not follow the proper recruitment process.
“The 1,000 cadets invited for training went through a rigorous selection process. They submitted applications online, underwent document verification, and passed physical fitness tests before being invited to camp,” Abass stated.
He further revealed that some unqualified individuals managed to gain access to the camp, while some selected candidates failed to meet the reporting deadline. Those with health issues were also disqualified.
Abass reaffirmed that the Amotekun Corps remains committed to fairness and impartiality in its recruitment process. He described the allegations as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the security outfit’s credibility.
PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments
IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court
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