NDLEA unveils Lagos socialite as drug baron, seizes seven houses, N217m

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has declared a Lagos socialite wanted for allegedly sponsoring drug trafficking.

The socialite, who is also the owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem (aka Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed) is also wanted over offences bordering on exportation of illicit drugs and money laundering.

The spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday said the decision to declare Kazeen wanted was his failure to honour NDLEA invitations, as well as an order granted the agency by a Federal High Court in Lagos on October 17, 2022.

“The wanted drug kingpin was uncovered as the sponsor of some traffickers arrested by the anti-narcotics agency in their recent attempt to export cocaine to Dubai, UAE and other destinations outside Nigeria.

“Soon after the arrest of one of his mules, Bolujoko Muyiwa Babalola, a Lagos BRT driver on June 27 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Alhaji Ademola Kazeem who is also the Chairman of Adekaz Global Integrated Services, went underground.

“Following his failure to honour invitations sent to him, the agency approached a Federal High Court in Lagos with three prayers; to attach and seal his identified properties in Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo State; declare him wanted and block his bank account with a cash balance of N217m, all of which were granted.

“As a result, NDLEA operatives on October 26, 2022, sealed six of the identified properties located on Lagos Island. They include the building on 105 Tokunbo Street off Broad Street, Lagos Island; 1 Abibu Oki Street off Marina, Lagos Island; 3 Abibu Oki Street off Marina, Lagos Island; 54 Palm Church Street, Lagos Island; 26 Agarawu Street, Lagos Island; and 41 Foresythe Street, Lagos Island. The other one is located at 1 Irepodun zone, Adepoju bus stop, Ajoda Ayedun, Ibadan, Oyo State,” the statement reads partly.

Babafemi also said  the NDLEA on October 28 arrested another drug baron, Udemezue Obunike William at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on his return from Brazil.

“His arrest with the support of the Nigeria Immigration Service followed the earlier arrest of some drug couriers linked to Udemezue as their sponsor. They include two mules: Messrs Adolphus Anayochukwu Okeke and Anayo Michael Nnanna.

“The 52-year-old father of four children who claimed to be a businessman, Okeke, was arrested at the Abuja airport by NDLEA operatives with 20.75 kilogrammes of black liquid cocaine on March 17.

“Also, Anayo was arrested at the Port Harcourt International Airport on March 29 with 73 sachets weighing 8.15 kg of cocaine,” Babafemi said.

He added that the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended the officers and men of the agency involved in the investigation that led to the unmasking of the two barons.