• Orders Final Forfeiture Of Properties Linked To Drug Proceeds

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday remanded a 63-year-old suspected drug baron, Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians in a correctional facility over alleged involvement in an illicit drug manufacturing operation in an Ogun State forest.
 
The defendants were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on an 11-count charge bordering on the establishment of a super clandestine laboratory and the production of 2,419.48 kilogrammes of methamphetamine valued at over N480 billion in the international market. 
 
The laboratory was allegedly located in Mowe village, Ijebu East Local Council of Ogun State.
 
They are Anochili Innocent, 63; Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49; Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40, all Mexican nationals except Anochili.

Others are Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 43; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; Omonughwa Kingsley Orike, 45; and Nwobum Emeka, 59.
 
The defendants were arraigned following their arrest by operatives of the NDLEA during coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos states between May 16 and 18, 2026.
 
Those arrested at the clandestine laboratory hidden deep inside the Mowe forest on May 16 included Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, alongside the three Mexican methamphetamine experts, Nemecio Martinez Felix, Jesus López Valles and Juan Carlos Meza Torrero.
 
The alleged mastermind of the cartel, Anochili Innocent, was subsequently arrested at his luxury residence located at No. 8 Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos.
 
In a follow-up operation on May 18, 2026, NDLEA operatives stormed another property owned by Anochili at House 70, Close 3, Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, where another alleged member of the syndicate, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was arrested. Investigators later raided the residence of another suspect, Emeka Nwobum, whose property was allegedly used as the cartel’s strategic stash house.
 
The 11-count charge, filed by the NDLEA prosecution team, accused the defendants of conspiring between February and May 16, 2026, to establish a clandestine laboratory for the preparation, processing and production of methamphetamine, contrary to Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act.
 
Other charges include managing, organising and financing a drug trafficking organisation, contrary to Section 20(1)(g) of the Act; unlawfully transporting precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), phenylacetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the Mowe laboratory using a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes-Benz with registration number APP 942 YL and a Toyota Highlander with registration number GWA 662 DJ, contrary to Section 20(1)(f); as well as the unlawful production and possession of the 2,419.48kg of methamphetamine, contrary to Sections 11(a) and 19 of the Act, respectively.

The charge sheet further alleged that the defendants were in possession of large quantities of precursor chemicals recovered from the laboratory, including 358kg of toluene, 1,834kg of hydrochloric acid and 22.5kg of acetone, alongside quantities of P2P and phenylacetic acid, contrary to Section 20(1)(e) of the NDLEA Act.
 
In a separate count, Anochili was charged under Section 12 of the NDLEA Act for allegedly allowing his fenced property, on which the super laboratory was situated, to be used for the production of illicit drugs.
 
All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before Justice Kakaki.
 
Following the plea, the prosecution called seven witnesses to commence trial, stating that proof of evidence had been served on the defence since July 3, 2026. 
 
The defence counsel, however, objected and requested more time to prepare their case.
 
The court consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Lagos Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to July 16 and 22, 2026, for the hearing of their bail applications and continuation of trial.
 
Speaking on the arraignment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), described the case as one of the most significant dismantling of an industrial-scale narcotics production operation on Nigerian soil.

In a related development, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of four properties belonging to socialite, Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, to the Federal Government.
 
Justice Musa Kakaki made the order yesterday after holding that the properties were proceeds of alleged drug trafficking activities while delivering ruling in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/1344/2025.
 
The forfeiture followed an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), filed through its counsel, Abu Ibrahim, a Commander of Narcotics, seeking the permanent forfeiture of the properties.
 
In the application, the NDLEA argued that the properties, linked to Aremu, also known as “Barryshine” and “Ejeoto”were reasonably believed to have been acquired from proceeds of unlawful activities, specifically drug trafficking and dealing.
 
During the proceedings, NDLEA counsel, Abu Ibrahim, appeared for the agency, while Chinedum Okoro represented the owner of one of the affected properties located at 55, Queen Street, Alagomeji, Yaba. Olatunji Abisoye also appeared as counsel for the respondent/applicant.
 
After considering the submissions of counsel, Justice Kakaki granted the application and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
 
The court held that the properties listed in the schedule to the application were reasonably believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities related to drug trafficking.
 
The affected properties are located at 55, 55A, 63, and 72, Queen Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State.