The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has re-arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and faked his death in an attempt to evade prosecution.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday, revealing that the suspect was brought before the Federal High Court in Benin after investigations uncovered that he was still alive despite an affidavit claiming otherwise.
Ofoyeju said Lawal, 50, was first arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State while allegedly transporting banned psychotropic substances.
According to him, operatives recovered 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital concealed inside a white Toyota bus with registration number BWR 401 XC Abuja.
The NDLEA commander explained that the suspect was later arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on unlawful transportation of controlled substances under the NDLEA Act.
He said Lawal pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by the court but subsequently absconded and failed to appear for trial.
In what the agency described as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the judicial process, the suspect’s wife, identified as Ibrahim Nana Hawa, allegedly submitted an affidavit in October 2024 claiming that her husband died of tuberculosis on October 3, 2024.
The affidavit reportedly stated that the suspect had been buried according to Islamic rites in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, where the family resided.
However, the agency said intelligence reports later revealed that the suspect was alive and still moving freely.
“Our operatives, acting on credible intelligence, discovered that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was not dead as claimed. He was eventually tracked and apprehended during a covert operation,” Ofoyeju said.
He added that the suspect was re-arraigned before Justice B.O. Quadir of the Federal High Court in Benin on Tuesday, while the case was adjourned till June 22, 2026, for further hearing.
The NDLEA boss described the alleged submission of a false death affidavit as a serious attempt to obstruct justice, warning that the agency would not spare anyone found complicit in the act.
“The use of false information to evade prosecution is a grave offence, and the command will take necessary action against all individuals involved in the scheme, including the suspect’s wife,” he said.
Ofoyeju also commended officers in Edo and Kogi states for their efforts in tracking and re-arresting the suspect, reaffirming the agency’s resolve to clamp down on drug trafficking and related crimes across the country.
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