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A suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly absconded after being granted bail, has been re-arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, despite a reported attempt by his wife to convince the court that he was dead.
The suspect was produced before the Federal High Court in Benin City on Tuesday after NDLEA operatives uncovered what the agency described as a fraudulent scheme involving a false death affidavit allegedly sworn by his wife.
The Edo State Commandant of Narcotics and NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, has disclosed that Lawal was first arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to him, the suspect was intercepted while carrying banned psychotropic substances concealed inside a white Toyota bus with registration number BWR 401 XC Abuja.
He said exhibits recovered from the vehicle at the time included 0.257 kilograms of Lexotan, one kilogram of Diazepam and 5.4 kilograms of phenobarbital.
The NDLEA boss explained that the suspect was subsequently arraigned before the court on three charges bordering on illegal transportation of controlled drugs contrary to the provisions of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Ofoyeju said that although Lawal pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, he later disappeared and failed to appear for the continuation of the trial.
“In an apparent attempt to frustrate the prosecution, the suspect’s wife, identified as Ibrahim Nana Hawa, swore in an affidavit in October 2024 claiming that her husband had died on October 3, 2024, after a prolonged tuberculosis-related illness,” he said.
The affidavit reportedly indicated that Lawal, a resident of Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, was buried according to Islamic rites.
However, the NDLEA commander said that information gathered by officers later revealed that the suspect was alive and moving freely.
“Our officers acted on credible information, tracked him to his hideout and eventually arrested him in a covert operation,” Ofoyeju added.
Lawal was subsequently arraigned again before Justice BO Quadir of the Federal High Court, Benin City, where the matter was adjourned to June 22, 2026, for further hearing.
