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NDLEA declares prophetess, couple wanted over seized illicit drugs

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a Port Harcourt, Rivers state-basedprophetess and founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi and a ccouple – Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen – wanted for recruiting teenage girls into drug trafficking.

The NDLEA said the individuals serve as the arrowheads of an international syndicate operating from Los Angeles, USA.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday, April 2, by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

The agency said the lid of the cartel was blown open when operatives at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a consignment of 32.70 kilograms of loud, a potent variant of cannabis concealed in cartons of used wears on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

“A freight agent, Ukoh Ifeanyi Oguguo, was immediately arrested, while further investigations led to the arrest of four more suspects: Chikodi Favour, Obiyom Shalom Chiamaka, Nnochiri Chidinma Promise, and Edward Omatseye (aka Montana).

“The 15-year-old Favour was the first sales girl to be arrested at a fuel station in the Ajah area of Lagos. She thereafter led the operatives to a duplex accommodation around Ikate area of Lekki, which was later discovered to be a rented apartment by the criminal group purposely for four young girls that the syndicate uses for marketing and distribution of illicit drugs,” the agency stated.

The NDLEA said another girl, Shalom, a fresh Agricultural Science graduate from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was picked from the house alongside Favour.

The anti-narcotic agency stated it learnt during its preliminary interviews that the syndicate rented another building used as a drugs warehouse inside Richmond Estate, Lekki.

It added that when operatives located the house, it was discovered that other syndicate members had broken into the store and carted away bags of illicit substances.

However, some illicit drug paraphernalia, including a sealing machine, bloating machine and packaging bags, were recovered from the warehouse, and a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Edward Omatseye at his residence around the Lekki area.

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“Edward confessed during interview to be working for Igho and his wife, Danielle, who are identified as the overall heads of the criminal group,” the NDLEA added.

It went further to state that investigation was able to establish that Favour and Shalom were recruited as salesgirls in the illicit drug trade by Ugochi, using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help, on behalf of Ubiribo (aka Tiny) and Allen (aka Dani).

The agency said it discovered that Omatseye (aka Montana) was coordinating the illicit drug trade activities for the syndicate in Nigeria, with Promise as representative of Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.



It added that several attempts to get Ugochi, Ubiribo and Allen to submit themselves for questioning had proved abortive.

The NDLEA said a letter of invitation sent to Ugochi at her Christ Adoration Ministries, No. 27 Anozie Street, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on November 28, 2022, was received and acknowledged by her mother, with whom she runs the church.




     

     

    In the same vein, invitation letters were also extended to Ubiribo and Allen.

    Ugochi fled her home and went into hiding, while the duo of Igho and Danielle initially sent a legal representation but had since gone incommunicado.

    The agency said it had blocked a sum of N80 million traced to the account and obtained a court order to seize all properties, including a fuel station linked to the suspects in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

    The NDLEA added that it also sought and obtained an order from the Federal High Court, Lagos, to declare Igho, Allen, and Ugochi wanted.

    Bankole Abe

    A reporter with the ICIR
    A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance

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