Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has re‑arrested and re‑arraigned a 50‑year‑old suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and was falsely declared dead by his wife in a bid to evade prosecution. The agency’s state commander, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed that Lawal was initially arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State while transporting a large consignment of psychotropic substances. According to Ofoyeju, the suspect was found in possession of 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital – all controlled substances – concealed in a white Toyota bus with registration number Abuja BWR401XC.
Following his arrest, Lawal was charged before a Federal High Court in Benin on a three‑count charge of unlawful transportation of controlled substances. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail. Instead of standing trial, Lawal absconded and failed to appear for his court proceedings, stalling the case for years. In a desperate attempt to pervert justice, Lawal’s wife, Ibrahim Nana Hawa, allegedly submitted an affidavit to the court in October 2024, claiming that her husband had died on October 3, 2024, following a protracted illness diagnosed as tuberculosis. The affidavit, titled “Affidavit of Facts as to the Demise of the Husband,” stated that Lawal passed away at their residence in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and was buried according to Islamic rites. For months, the ruse appeared to work, as the case remained in limbo.
Acting on intelligence reports, NDLEA operatives from the Edo and Kogi State commands launched a covert investigation to verify the claim. Their persistence paid off when they uncovered that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was very much alive and had simply been hiding from authorities. “Our operatives, working on intelligence, uncovered the truth that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was very much alive,” Ofoyeju told journalists. “He was recently apprehended in a covert operation and taken into custody.” On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Lawal was brought before Justice B.O. Quadir of the Federal High Court in Benin City. The court adjourned the matter to June 22, 2026, for further hearing, and the suspect was remanded in NDLEA custody.
The agency has vowed to prosecute not only the principal suspect but also his wife and anyone else who participated in the cover‑up. “The use of a false death affidavit to evade prosecution is a serious offence, and the command will not hesitate to sanction all parties involved, including the wife, for her role in this fraudulent scheme,” Ofoyeju stated. The NDLEA commended the officers for their diligence and persistence, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that drug traffickers and their collaborators face the full weight of the law.
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