News Update

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested high-profile individuals and seized some drug across Lagos, Kwara, Kano, and Rivers states.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The statement noted that a 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, also known as “Iya Ruka,” was arrested on January 1, 2025, by NDLEA operatives at her mansion in Okota, Lagos.

She had been on the agency’s wanted list for leading a major drug cartel in Mushin.

Her arrest followed the interception of a truck carrying 1,540 kilograms of cannabis, driven by her staff, Abideen Adio. Alhaja Ajoke, who posed as a businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes, was also a socialite and leader of a Lagos women’s club.

The statement said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) began the new year with the arrest of a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, in her mansion at Okota, Lagos, following the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs by her staff on the same day.

“Known in the drug underworld as ‘Iya Ruka,’ Alhaja Ajoke, as she is fondly called in social circles, had her true identity shrouded in mystery for years while she remained on the NDLEA’s wanted list for leading one of the drug cartels operating from the Mushin area of Lagos.

“Her invincibility was blown open on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, when NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis, driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio. The operatives then stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where they arrested her.

“On the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath that lies a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognised as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.”

Also, US-trained filmmaker and motivational speaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe was arrested in a Lagos hotel on December 27, 2024.

The statement said his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, had been caught earlier with 33 parcels of “Loud” cannabis, weighing 17.30 kilograms, concealed in wooden boxes shipped from the United States.

The statement added, “In another major operation, NDLEA officers on Friday, 27th December 2024, arrested US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, who is also a motivational speaker, at his Lekki hotel room following the earlier arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja. James had been sent by Mbadiwe to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.30 kilograms, which had arrived at the Import Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja on 24th December 2024, concealed in large wooden boxes.”

In Ilorin, NDLEA operatives arrested 24-year-old Khadijat Abdulraheem and 20-year-old Ayomide Morakinyo on December 29, 2024, for producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students. A search of their apartment uncovered 42 drugged cakes.

The statement added, “In Kwara State, fresh graduate Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and 20-year-old student Ayomide Morakinyo of the University of Ilorin were arrested on Sunday, 29th December 2024, by NDLEA operatives at Tanke-University of Ilorin Road, Oke Odo, Ilorin, following credible intelligence that they were producing and selling drug-laced cupcakes to students in the community. When their apartment was searched, 42 pieces of drugged cakes were recovered.”