The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested Suleiman Aremu, a suspected drug baron, over attempts to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, said Aremu, also known as Barryshine, came under the agency’s watch after four failed attempts to export drugs to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.

In a statement on Friday, Babafemi said Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a female passenger on Qatar airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, was arrested at the airport on November 13, 2022, in possession of 400g of cocaine concealed in female shoes.

The agency said upon investigation, it was found that one Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, Aremu’s brother, hired Sidika.

“Further facts emerged that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced by Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu,” the statement reads.

“A few days after the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga was also arrested on November 24, 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams, concealed in male footwears while going to the same destination, Saudi Arabia.

“The suspect, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (a.k.a Teacher) who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him for Suleiman. Lawal further alleged that Wasiu Gbolahan linked him up with the baron through one Igbono, who was later unveiled through investigation as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (a.k.a Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje and Ejeoto).

“While investigation of the two cases subsisted and the manhunt for the baron was ongoing, two drug mules were arrested at the MMIA on June 21, 2024 on their way to Doha, Qatar.

“One of the suspects who was later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel (a.k.a Oladapo Olanrewaju) expelled in observation custody a total of 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.022kg, which he ingested, while the second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji excreted 60 wraps of cocaine with a total weight of 662 grams.

“Further investigation later revealed that the two arrested couriers, Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji were recruited by the same Igbono who works for the baron and featured in 2022 during the arrest of Ajesegiri Kehinde Sidika and Lawal Lateef Oyenuga.

“Financial investigation conducted by the Agency also linked the baron Suleiman to the arrested suspects and two of his associates who recruit traffickers for him: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large.”

Babafemi said the agency blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel after which Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on August 26, 2024 for further investigation.

The NDLEA said Suleiman, who resides in Lagos and Paris, claimed he is into property development and hotel management.

He also claimed that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia was to perform the lesser hajj.

The agency said Dipeolu Isaac, judge of the federal high court in Lagos, has granted an application by the NDLEA for the extension of Suleiman’s detention for 30 days.

The judge also granted the agency’s request to declare Suleiman’s — associates Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon — wanted.

A US district court in New York has sentenced Tyrese Haspil to 40 years in prison for the murder of Fahim Saleh, founder of Gokada, a Nigerian ride-hailing company.

Although Haspil was sentenced on Friday, the 25-year-old American man had been convicted by a New York state supreme court jury two months ago.

He was found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree grand larceny and other charges.

The convict, who was Saleh’s personal assistant, had stolen tens of thousands of dollars (estimated total of $400,000) from him before resigning in 2019.

The district attorney’s office said that Haspil repaid Saleh using funds obtained through a PayPal scheme, but “the embezzlement continued reaching an estimated total of $400,000”.

Prosecutors say surveillance footage captured Haspil entering Saleh’s apartment building in Lower Manhattan on July 13, 2020, and following him into the elevator.

They said that upon exiting the elevator which led directly into Saleh’s apartment, Haspil deployed a taser against Saleh’s back and then repeatedly stabbed him in the neck and torso with a knife, resulting in his death.

The next day, Haspil returned to the apartment where he “dismembered and decapitated Mr. Saleh’s body using the saw and placed the body parts in pre-ordered construction bags,” as stated in a press release.

Saleh’s cousin made the discovery after visiting his apartment having not received any communication from him in 24 hours. She immediately notified the police.

Haspil was arrested four days later at an Airbnb location he had rented to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.

The Gokada founder had discovered Haspil’s embezzlement of thousands of dollars from his accounts, to which Haspil had access as his executive assistant since 2018.

The prosecutors say Haspil had plotted to murder Saleh “at least three times” before ultimately carrying out the crime in July 2020.

They say the murder was committed to hide the embezzlement and prevent Saleh from potentially serving as a witness against him.

Gokada is a ride-hailing service in Nigeria which launched in 2017 before diversifying into logistics and food delivery in 2020.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared one Ibrahim Mohammed wanted for allegedly stealing a vehicle belonging to the agency.

In a statement on Friday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said the 26-year-old man is wanted for alleged case of stealing and illegal possession of the commission’s vehicle.

Oyewale said Mohammed is an indigene of Jada LGA of Adamawa state, adding that anyone with information of his whereabouts should contact the commission.

“The public is hereby notified that Ibrahim Mohammed is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of stealing and illegal possession of commission’s vehicle,” the statement reads.

“Mohammed, 26, is an indigene of Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa state and his last known address is: 56 Japa Bariki Road, Adamawa state.

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Oyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its email address: info@efcc.gov.ng.”