‘Dead’ Edo drug suspect who jumped bail rearrested by NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State has re-arrested and arraigned a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and was falsely declared dead by his wife in an attempt to evade prosecution.

.....

According to the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, Lawal was first arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area while allegedly transporting psychotropic substances. The agency said the suspect was found with 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam, and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital concealed inside a Toyota bus.

He was subsequently charged before the Federal High Court in Benin on offences relating to the unlawful transportation of controlled substances under the NDLEA Act. Ofoyeju said Lawal pleaded not guilty and was granted bail but later absconded and failed to appear in court.

The NDLEA further alleged that in an effort to frustrate the prosecution, the suspect’s wife submitted an affidavit claiming her husband died in October 2024 after battling tuberculosis and had been buried according to Islamic rites in Kogi State. However, the agency said investigations later revealed that the suspect was still alive.

According to the NDLEA, operatives acting on intelligence tracked and re-arrested Lawal during a covert operation. The suspect was arraigned again before Justice B.O. Quadir of the Federal High Court in Benin, and the matter was adjourned until June 22, 2026, for further hearing.

The NDLEA described the alleged false death claim as an attempt to obstruct justice and warned that anyone found involved in the scheme, including the suspect’s wife, could face prosecution. The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking and urged members of the public to continue supporting law enforcement efforts with credible information.