The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has re-arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and was falsely declared dead by his wife in an affidavit submitted to a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the suspect was brought before the Federal High Court in Benin on May 26, 2026, after operatives uncovered that he was alive despite claims of his death.
Ofoyeju said Lawal, 50, was initially arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State while transporting psychotropic substances.
According to him, the suspect was found with 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital concealed in a white Toyota bus with registration number Abuja BWR 401 XC.
He said the suspect was subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on unlawful transportation of controlled substances under the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
