NDLEA Arrests Popular Pastor Over Drug Dealings In Lagos 

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested Reverend Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ekwem, the General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The suspect was said to be on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya when 54 sticks of drugs were wrapped around his body.

The youthful and popular preacher who has his church headquarters in Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu road, Awka, Anambra State and two other branches in Lagos and Abuja, was arrested during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi via Addis Ababa.

When tested, the 54 sticks proved positive to cannabis. The clergyman confessed during a preliminary interview that he packed that quantity of illicit substance on his body to use during his three weeks crusade in Kenya.

The agency also arrested some suspects in Yobe and Kaduna over drug related matters

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa Port, Kaduna, Yobe and Anambra Commands of the Agency for the impressive seizures and arrests in the past week, Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues across the country to stay focussed and intensify efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs and substances.