Posted by By Simon Ateba on
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a final-year student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Mr. Quadri Babajide Sulaiman, with 93 wraps of cocaine, weighing over 1.4 kilogrammes.
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a final-year student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Mr. Quadri Babajide Sulaiman, with 93 wraps of cocaine, weighing over 1.4 kilogrammes.
Babajide, an indigene of Odogbolu in Ogun State, described as one of the ‘Big Boys' in the university, was, last Friday, arrested at the departure lounge of the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Lagos, while on his way to London via a Virgin Nigeria flight.
He told NDLEA officials that he was paid 500 pounds to take the drug to London. 'I am disappointed in myself. I am dumbfounded. I do not need money for anything. I still can't understand why I am in this mess. We did not discuss money, but when I opened the envelope he gave to me and counted the money it was 500 pounds. I pray to God to help me out of this problem,' Babajide lamented.
NDLEA said Babajide confessed to have ingested the drugs in a car at city hall. Similarly, a nursing mother with a seven-month-old child, was arrested on Sunday, 7 September, 2008, at about 8 p.m., during screening of passengers on Air France.
Bose Ojenabor inserted a big wrap of cocaine, weighing 216 grammes, in her private part and ingested 52 pieces of same substance. The housewife, who is based in Italy, said that poverty made her to deal in drugs.
'This is my first time. I agreed to carry the drugs for 1000 Euros because I needed a roof over my head and that of my child. I am sorry to my baby and I am sorry to my country that I have disappointed them,' she said.
The drug was given to her at Ojodu, Berger, Lagos, in a restaurant. She also said that all her years of working in Italy were wasted because the money she sent to her uncle in Benin to buy land and build a house for her in the village was squandered.
The third suspect, Nnadozie Kenneth, is a car dealer at Berger, in Lagos. He ingested 65 pieces of substances that proved positive for cocaine on his way to Paris, on Saturday, 6 September, 2008, at about 9 p.m. Kenneth, who is married and has three children, also claimed that this was his first time of trafficking in drugs.
According to him, 'it is not intentional. This is manipulation because I do not know how he convinced me. I had my own 2000 Euros with which I wanted to use to buy fairly used cars from France. In fact my wife felt like tearing me to pieces when she saw me in this condition,' he said regretfully.
Kenneth would have been paid 3000 Euros. He lives at Ogba, and hails from Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. The NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr. Victor Cole-Showers, said it is unfortunate for a final-year student to indulge in drug trafficking even when all his needs are provided for by his parents. He said all the suspects will be charged to court accordingly.
Concerning the woman with the seven-month-old baby, the commander added that 'she cannot hide under the cover of a nursing mother to commit such a serious crime.' Ofoyeju Mitchell, Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, said, this morning, that efforts are being made to hand over the baby to the father who lives in Benin City, Edo State.