Ijeoma Ojukwu, a niece of late Biafra warlord, Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly conspiring with four others to import cocaine from Brazil.
According to a document obtained by Vanguard and issued by NDLEA, Ojukwu’s niece is currently being interrogated alongside Ali Bala Adamu, one of its operatives, and two others after abandoned luggage from Brazil was found to contain 2.24kg of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
The acting chairman/chief executive of the NDLEA, Mrs Roli Bode-George, said that the agency will prosecute whoever is involved, saying: “The NDLEA is following every lead professionally and will exploit more opportunities towards getting every culprit arrested. We have also expanded the scope of our investigation and everyone involved in this illegal importation of narcotics shall be diligently prosecuted.
“The agency will continue to uphold the rule of law and dislodge drug trafficking organisations in the country.
“NDLEA will not compromise its high standard of operation. We are working very hard with international and local collaborators in projecting the image of Nigeria in drug control programmes. Any attempt by any person or group of persons to sabotage this great achievement shall be resisted. Probity and strict law enforcement shall be sustained.”
Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, also said that the cocaine seizure is the first in the New Year.
According to him: “This is the first drug seizure for the year. On December 28, 2015, a bag with a tag bearing Agina Fidelis Ejike was abandoned at the arrival hall during inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight. On January 1, 2016, one Egbuche Fidelis Osita came with authority letter mandating him to collect the bag.
“In the process, some white powdery substance weighing 2.24kg that tested positive for cocaine was discovered. The drug was neatly packed in four parcels concealed in false bottom of four female handbags. Further investigation led to more arrests.”
The 48-year-old Ojukwu, who according to preliminary investigations, owns a restaurant in Brazil, is a suspected member of an international drug trafficking organization.
It was alleged that Ojukwu conspired with other suspects to collect the abandoned bag from the airport with the intent to recover the 2.24kg of cocaine and had allegedly contacted the official of the NDLEA involved in the scam on how to facilitate the collection of the bag at the airport.
She said: “I have a restaurant in Brazil where I sell African food. I am from Anambra State and I am married with three children. My brother came from Brazil and could not find his bag. It was in the process of trying to get the bag out that we were arrested.”
Another member of the alleged syndicate, Igwelo, 36, confessed to having been invited by Ojukwu to assist in collecting the bag.
The graduate of public administration, who hails from Anambra state, said: “I sell kitchen utensil and I am married with a child. Ijeoma met me that I should help him to collect a bag at the airport. We were trying to get the bag when NDLEA officers arrested us.”
Those being interrogated alongside Ijeoma Ojukwu include Adamu, Ojukwu, Victor Umeh, Uche Igwelo and Egbuche Fidelis Osiita.