The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the forfeiture of a multi-million-naira mansion located at K-5A/2 Road 14, Victoria Garden City Estate, Lekki Lagos. This property was used as a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Okenwa Chris Nzewi. The forfeiture to the Federal Government follows Nzewi's successful prosecution and conviction for drug offenses.

According to the agency's spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Okenwa and his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, were arrested on July 30, 2022, and subsequently arraigned on four counts at the Federal High Court, Lagos. They both pleaded guilty on July 17, 2023, and were convicted and sentenced to four and three years of imprisonment, with an option of fines of four million (N4,000,000) naira and three million (N3,000,000) naira, respectively, in addition to community service for four and three weeks each. Furthermore, Nzewi's vehicle marked EKY 496 DJ was also forfeited to the Federal Government.

To prevent Nzewi from enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as a clandestine laboratory at the Federal High Court Lagos. The court initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on December 6 before the final forfeiture on December 7.

In a separate development, the NDLEA reported an interception of a way-billed consignment containing cocaine weighing 2.287kg along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway in Imo. The shipment, concealed in cellophane condoms, was heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State from Lagos. A suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, has been arrested in connection with this seizure.

Additionally, NDLEA operatives in Lagos arrested a 75-year-old woman, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, in the Oshodi area of Lagos for dealing in illicit drugs. Quantities of cannabis and liters of codeine syrup were recovered from her at the time of her arrest.

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