An operative from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Superintendent Hussaini Gusau, testified in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday regarding the seizure of 704 kilograms of cannabis sativa linked to an alleged drug baron, Jimoh Suleimon, alias ‘Temo.’
During the ongoing trial, Gusau detailed the events surrounding the arrest made in 2020. He recounted receiving intelligence about individuals offloading goods from a boat into a truck at the Apapa Special Area Marine Unit in Lagos. Upon alerting his commander, Gusau and his team rushed to the scene, only to find that the suspects had nearly finished loading their cargo and were preparing to leave.
“We followed them to the gate. They came in three vehicles—a white truck, a Sienna space car, and a Camry,” Gusau explained. As the team blocked the exit, the suspects attempted to flee, but six of them were apprehended.
Gusau ordered the truck driver, Udoka Felix, to open the vehicle. Felix claimed he was merely the driver, having been chartered by one of the suspects, Ayambele, who, in turn, pointed to Wasiu as the cargo owner. Upon opening the truck, officers discovered it was filled with dry weed, suspected to be marijuana.
During cross-examination by defense attorney Benson Ndakara, Gusau confirmed that Suleimon was not present at the time of the arrest and stated that he had never met the defendant prior to the trial. “No, the defendant did not sign any of the exhibits tendered by the prosecution,” he said.
Another prosecution witness, Mrs. Patricia Afolabi, a forensic analyst with the NDLEA, testified that a sample of the seized marijuana was sent to her for analysis. “When I tested the sample, it was positive for marijuana,” Afolabi stated. However, under cross-examination, she admitted that Suleimon had not signed any documents related to the test and indicated that she did not know the origin of the sample.
The court has adjourned the case until Friday, October 4, 2024, for further proceedings. Suleimon, who is also known as Olowoidigede and Godfather, faces six amended charges, including being a member of a drug trafficking organization and concealing illicit funds. He has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The NDLEA had previously arraigned Suleimon, stating that he and four others—Ojo Emmanuel, Wasiu Olayinka Saliu, Taofeek Noah, and one Kazeem, all currently at large—operated a drug trafficking organization between 2020 and 2024, engaging in illegal activities between Nigeria and Ghana. The charges against him contravene multiple sections of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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