The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested, Sulaiman Jimoh populaly know as Temo, 57-year-old old alleged leader of a drug cartel in Lagos.
Mr Femi Babafemi, NDLEA, Director of Media and Advocacy, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the arrest was done after many years of aversion and much resistance from the drug dealer and his gang of hoodlums.
“After many years of wearing the toga of invincibility, the overall head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, popularly known as Temo), has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA.
“In the past two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo.
“He has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfight,” he said.
Babafemi said that some of the recent seizures of the drug barons shipments included a 14, 524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana in two trucks and a J5 bus.
According to him, the drugs were intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of Jan., 28.
He added that two truck-loads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg were also intercepted at Eleko beach, Lekki Lagos on May 4, 2023 and 252kg of Loud seized from his enclave in Mushin on July 26, 2023.
Babafemi said that in the last two encounters, men of the NDLEA operatives were engaged in a gunfight.
“The drug kingpin was very notorious for always being on the move to evade arrest but with persistence and determination of the agency aided by modern tools and intelligence.
“The concerted effort to get him paid off at 10am on Monday, July 22 when NDLEA’s surveillance teams on his trail tracked and pinned him down at Igbarere street, Mushin.
“A reinforcement of about 50 operatives was immediately mobilised to the area while he was attempting to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 marked 01G-300G.
“His attempt to escape by mobilising hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives however failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered,” he said.
Some of the drugs intercepted from the suspect in 2023
In his reaction to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command Special Monitoring Task Force and other formations for professionalism.
Marwa urged the officers not to relent but to intensify efforts on arresting drug cartels nationwide and curbing the use of illicit drugs in the country.
“I urge officers to intensify the heat on all drug cartels wherever they are located.
“I’m particularly delighted because the arrest was eventually effected in his enclave without any casualty despite the attack on our men.
“This is therefore a clear message to others still involved in this criminal trade of illicit drugs that if they don’t opt out now, we’ll get them because we’re just steps away from their doorsteps,” he said.(NAN)
Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?
On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.
Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”
With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.
“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”
Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.
“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”
On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.
The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.
The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.
Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.
In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.
As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.
The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.
They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has commended the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for investing in sports for the discovery of talents for the region and the country at large.
The governor gave the commendation at the Monthly State Covenant Service held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, as arrangements have been concluded for official opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Eno, therefore, implored citizens and residents in the state to be fully involved in the festival.
He stressed the need for adequate maintenance of facilities recently revamped by the interventionist agency and assured successful hosting of the sports festival.
He promised to provide necessary support to ensure safe stay of all participants and tasked the organisers to leverage the peaceful ambiance of the state and make the competition a memorable one.
According to the organisers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected in Uyo today (Wednesday) to declare the festival open, with no fewer than 3,000 athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta to compete for laurels in 17 sporting events.
The competition will be hosted at six venues, including the Godswill Akpabio international stadium and West Itam Sports Centre, while the closing ceremony is billed for April 9.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contingents from the nine Niger Delta Development states had arrived Uyo for the festival. (NAN)
