NDLEA hunts celebrity couple, PH prophetess for drug trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has declared a Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi, wanted.

The agency also declared a celebrity couple – Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen – wanted.

They were accused of recruiting teenage girls into drug trafficking, as well as serving as the arrowheads of an international syndicate operating from Los Angeles, United States of America.

The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, the lid was blown off the cartel when NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a consignment of 32.70 kilograms of Loud, a strong variant of cannabis, concealed in cartons of used wears on November 16, 2022.

Babafemi added that a freight agent, Ukoh Oguguo, was immediately arrested while further investigations led to the arrest of four more suspects – Chikodi Favour, Obiyom Chiamaka, Nnochiri Promise and Edward Omatseye (aka Montana).

He said, “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, also in Lagos, 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.

“Another young lady, Shalom, who is a fresh graduate of Agricultural Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was picked from the house alongside Favour.

“During their preliminary interviews, it was learnt that the syndicate rented another building used as drugs warehouse inside Richmond Estate, Lekki

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

“However, some illicit drugs paraphernalia, including sealing machine, bloating machine and packaging bags were recovered from the warehouse.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Edward Omatseye at his residence around Lekki area.”

Omatseye was said to have confessed to be working for Igho and his wife, Danielle, who are identified as the overall heads of the criminal group.

The NDLEA spokesman stated further that investigation was able to establish that Favour and Shalom were recruited as salesgirls in the illicit drug trade by Prophetess Ugochi, using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help on behalf of the celebrity couple: Igho Ubiribo (aka Tiny) and Danielle Simba Allen (aka Dani), who are the owners of the business, while Omatseye coordinates the illicit drug trade activities for them in Nigeria, with Nnochiri Chidinma Promise as representative of Ben Cargo Limited, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.

While Promise and Omatseye have already been charged to court and are currently facing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos, alongside Ben Cargo Limited, a freight company which has been linked to two previous drug seizures and also involved in the current case, several attempts to get Prophetess Ugochi, Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen to submit themselves for questioning have proved abortive.

A letter of invitation sent to Prophetess Ugochi of Christ Adoration Ministries, 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.

The letter was followed with a reminder on January 9, 2023 after a long wait.

In the same vein, letters of invitation were also extended to Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen.

A reminder was also sent when the couple didn’t show any readiness to respond to the first invitation.

While Prophetess Ugochi fled her home and went into hiding, but continued her prophetic ministration on Facebook, the duo of Igho and Danielle initially sent a legal representation to ask for another time to honour the invitation.

They have since gone incommunicado.

Curiously, they hurriedly moved all funds traced to their company, Lasgidi Backwood Limited, where all proceeds from the sales of illicit drugs were deposited, into the private account of one Victor Imagoro.

“The agency has since blocked the sum of N80m taced 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 has further sought and obtained an order of the Federal High Court, Lagos, to declare wanted the celebrity couple: Ubiribo Igho and Danielle Allen, as well as Prophetess Ugochi,” Babafemi added.