Court Grants NDLEA Permission To Detain Suspected Drug Baron For 30 Days

Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday, granted an ex-parte order by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking an extension to detain a suspected drug lord, Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, popularly known as Barryshine, for additional 30 days.

Justice Dipeolu granted the order after listening to an ex-parte application moved by the NDLEA lawyer, Abu Ibrahim, seeking an order to continue the detention of Ganiu, pending the conclusion of an investigation into his alleged multiple drug trafficking activities.

Ibrahim told the court that the suspect, who was arrested on August 26, 2024, had been implicated in several and multiple drug seizures intended for Saudi Arabia and Doha in the United Arab Emirates.

The anti-narcotic agency also asked the court for an order declaring wanted one Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, also known as ‘Igbona’, ‘Murphy’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaya’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Baba Eje’, ‘Ejeoto’ and one Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulahi, who are all presently at large, for their involvement in the alleged multiple drug trafficking activities with Ganiu.

The NDLEA claimed that Abdullahi was involved in drug trafficking activities with Ganiu concerning the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, who was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia with 400 grams of Cocaine concealed in foot wears.

The NDLEA, in an affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion deposed to by Thompson Fatogun, an operative of the agency, stated that on November 13, 2022, one Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos during outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia with 400 grams of cocaine concealed in foot wears.

Fatogun alleged that Abdulahi and Ganiu were implicated during the investigation into the arrest of Sidika.

The deponent also stated that Abidoye was also implicated as the middle person between the courier and the duo of Abdulahi and Ganiu.

Parts of the affidavit read: “That on the 24th November 2022 one, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos during outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia with 400Grams of Cocaine concealed in foot wears.

“That in the course of investigation Into the said arrest of Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, a.k.a. ‘Barryshine’ was again implicated as the sponsor/financier of the drug trafficking trip. And that one Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, a.k.a. ‘Igbona’, ‘Murphy’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaya’, ‘Baba Eje’, ‘Ejeoto’ was also implicated as the middle person between the courier and Suleiman Aremu Ganiu a.k.a. ‘Barryshine’.

“That on the 21st June 2024, one Aikhomoun Daniel was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos during outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to Doha with 1.022 kilograms of Cocaine ingested by the suspect. And that in the course of Investigation into the said arrest of Aikhomoun Daniel, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, a.k.a. ‘Igbona’, ‘Murphy’, ‘Fem Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaye’, ‘Baba Eje’, “Ejeoto’ and Suleiman Aremu Ganiu a.k.a. ‘Barryshine’ were again implicated as the middle person and the sponsor/financier of the drug trafficking trip respectively.

“That In the course of investigation into the said arrest of Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye a.k.a. ‘Igbona’, ‘Murphy’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaya’, ‘Baba Eje’, ‘Eyeoto’ and Suleiman Aremu Ganiu a.k.a. ‘Barryshine’ and were again implicated as the middle person and the sponsor/financier of the drug trafficking trip respectively.

“That due to the complexity of this investigation, which is being done in conjunction with foreign anti-narcotic drugs agencies and collaborators, the Applicant will need more time to conduct an in-depth and far-reaching investigation Into the alleged involvement of Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, a.k.a. ‘Barryshine’ and to conclude the investigation.”

Justice Dipeolu, after listening to Ibrahim, granted all the reliefs sought by the anti-narcotic agency.