THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the founder and General Overseer (GO) of Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly, Lagos, Nnodu Azuka, for drug trafficking.
The GO was arrested along with a student of Emmanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, Udezuka Udoka and their freight agent Oyoyo Obasi.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, February 12.
Azuka was arrested at his church in Lagos on Saturday, February 11, after his accomplices were apprehended on Thursday, February 9.
According to the NDLEA, the suspects had attempted to export methamphetamine and skunk concealed in gallons of palm oil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The statement said the freight agent, Obasi, confessed that she is a member of the GO’s church.
“Spilling the beans on how she was recruited by her church’s GO, Obasi said the clergyman and his son used threats to compel her to take the job after they knew she had known their secrets, adding that Nnodu was always referring to the illicit drugs as Ice and Bible, (Street names for Methamphetamine and Cannabis) in their telephone text message chats.
“The theology student, Udezuka, was introduced to Obasi to assist her because she was new in the illicit business. Udezuka said he was paid N2 million for his role and had to do it because he needed the money for his education,” the NDLEA statement said.
In 2022, the NDLEA had arrested the General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Lagos, Ugochukwu Ekwem, for drug trafficking.
Ekwem was on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi with 54 sticks of cannabis wrapped around his body.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.