A 75-year-old woman, Sekinat Soremekun, was arrested in Lagos for dealing in illicit drugs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) revealed on Sunday.
The agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said that the grandmother was apprehended in the Oshodi area of Lagos on Friday, where quantities of cannabis and liters of codeine syrup were seized from her.
Babafemi quoted the suspect, who claimed her son, Segun, now at large, supplied her with the illicit substances, which she then retailed.
He added, “NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday 15th December arrested a 75-year-old grandma, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, for dealing in illicit drugs.”
“At the time of her arrest in Oshodi area of Lagos, quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup were recovered from her. She claimed her son, Segun who is now at large supplied her the illicit substances which she retailed.”
The NDLEA also successfully obtained the forfeiture of a multi-million-naira mansion in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate, Lekki, which was used as a clandestine laboratory for methamphetamine production.
This followed the prosecution of a drug baron, Okenwa Chris Nzewi, with the court ruling that the building be forfeited to the Federal Government.
“Okenwa was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, on 30th July 2022 and subsequently arraigned on four counts in charge number FHC/L/527C/2022 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.” Babafemi explained.
“They both pleaded guilty on 17th July, 2023, while they were convicted and sentenced to four and three years imprisonment each with an option of fine of four million (N4,000,000) naira and three million (N3,000,000) naira 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.
“To further deny him of enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as a clandestine laboratory at the Federal High Court Lagos which initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on 6th December before the final forfeiture on 7th December 2023,” he stated.
Ada Peter
