Crime
Governors Wives Vows To Support NDLEA In Drug War To Promote Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Governors Wives Vows To Support NDLEA In Drug War To Promote Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Governors wives vows to support NDLEA in drug war to promote Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda. Successful drug war ‘ll promote President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda- Governors wives vow to support NDLEA efforts at state level, cascade national initiative to communities.
The Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) has said that the success of the ongoing efforts by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking will lead to the actualization of the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“Recalling the importance that successfully tackling the drug scourge will remarkably ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President is achievable for holistic national development required to birth a Nigeria of our collective dreams”, wives of state governors declared as part of their resolutions in a communique read by the first lady of Ogun state, Mrs. Bamidele Dapo Abiodun on behalf of the Chairperson of the Forum and first lady of Kwara state, Prof (Mrs.) Olufolake Abdulrasaq, at the end of a training workshop organized by the NDLEA in collaboration with the NGSF in Abuja on Tuesday 6th May 2025.
The Forum expressed concern “that Nigeria presently faces an alarming drug use situation, which has heavily pervaded every sphere and strata of communities and consequently endangering the wellbeing and security of individuals, families and communities within the country.”
It reiterates that states play critical roles as stakeholders in addressing national drug challenges by implementing localized strategies, fostering cross sector collaboration and aligning with internal frameworks, towards responding to community needs and contributing to coordinated national responses.
The Forum endorsed the “outstanding efforts of NDLEA under the leadership of Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa against drug use and trafficking with phenomenal national and global success records in the areas of arrests and seizures, prosecutions and convictions, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation among others.”
In its resolutions, the Forum acknowledged “with urgency the need for the First Ladies to use their good offices to liaise with the State Governors in facilitating the establishment, of State Drug Control Committees (SDCCs) in the thirty-six states of the country, beyond the nine functional committees currently in existence.”
It said the laudable partnership between NDLEA and the NGSF has yielded significant dividends and achieved notable milestones over time, adding that “urgent concerted and pragmatic efforts are required considering the complex public health issues and security challenges, the country is witnessing, which is fuelled largely by the use of drugs.”
The Forum called on the Federal Government and Governors to declare state of emergency on drug use and the illicit trafficking pandemic with a view to accepting national ownership of the drug problem and mobilising resources to dismantle the menace.
They also resolved to ensure that “Local Government Drug Abuse Committees are established in line with the ‘bottom to top’ approach, a core principle of the NDCMP, in ensuring that tailored Drug Demand Reduction activities are further cascaded to the wards and rural communities, areas highly vulnerable to the drug problem”
According to them “the Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) programmes in States continue to serve as Forum project, and to be chaired by the first ladies of the State, as additional tools for addressing community-based drug prevention, use and treatment modalities to promote community health, development and overall wellbeing.”
They highlighted the importance of the SDCCs in expanding its scope by seeking result-oriented partnerships with the private sector, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders in the development and implementation of community-based projects, through the enhancement of resources, facilities and infrastructure for holistic outcomes across the States of the Federation;
NDLEA
They also reaffirmed “the need for active collaboration with, and providing vital supports to NDLEA Commands in States with a view to achieving more effective, integrated and enduring responses to drug challenges in diverse community settings by combining enforcement, prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.”
The Forum harped on “the need to create and promote sustainable development initiatives by encouraging health and people centered prevention, treatment, social support, stigma reduction, and inclusive policies that tackle root causes and ensure long term community and health and resilience.”
EFCC Arraigns Former SKye Bank Chairman, Tunde Ayeni For N15.6b Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 4, 2026, arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuzuruike of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja.
Ayeni was arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of investors’ funds to the tune N15,665,085,429 (Fifteen Billion, Six hundred and Sixty five Million, Eighty five thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-nine Naira (N15,665,085,429).
Prosecution counsel E.E. Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and prosecution ready for trial.
“We have before the court 17-count charge dated April 28, 2026, we humbly apply that the charge be read to the defendant”, he said.
Eereporter.com
Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc between 21st of October, 2014 and 19th November, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of Three billion, Two hundred and One million, Five Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Forty two kobo(N3,201,535,429.42) by transferring same to Misa Limited’s account No: 1011295717 and 1011295718 domiciled with Zenith Bank in Violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other regulations and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.
Count five of the charge reads: “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about 27th November, 2014, at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Five Billion, Seventy Eight million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira(N5, 078,550,000) by transferring same to Union Registrar Limited’s Account No: 0003490559 domiciled with Union Bank in violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other Regulations and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 312 of same Act.”
Fraud
Ayeni pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his “not guilty” plea, Iheanacho prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji Bashir, SAN, informed the court that the charge was given to the defendant on a public holiday adding that he considered it imperative to inform the court. He also prayed the court to release the defendant to him or return him to the custody of the EFCC.
Justice Onwuzuruike adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while the defendant was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending determination of bail application.
EFCC Arraigns Fake BDC Operator For Alleged N78. 2m Fraud In Onitsha
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Okeke Ejike Callistus, a fake Bureau De Change operator before Justice D. A. Onyefulu of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Callistus was arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N78, 295, 000 (Seventy-eight million, Two hundred and Ninety-five thousand Naira).
Count one of the charge reads: “Mr. Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime on the 2nd of May, 2024, at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N62, 745, 000. 00 (Sixty-two million, Seven hundred and Forty-five thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu trading under the name and style of Leatez Enterprises and thereby committed an offence”.
Eereporter.com
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime between the 3rd to the 7th of May, 2024 at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N15, 550, 000. 00 (Fifteen million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu and thereby committed an offence”.
The offence contravenes Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 36, Anambra State and punishable under Section 353 (12) of the same Law.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the Commission and in view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche informed the court about a pending bail application before it, moved it and prayed the court to admit his client to bail.
Ajobiewe opposed the bail application on the ground that “there is likelihood of the defendant jumping bail due to the fact that he previously jumped bail granted him by the Commission”.
After listening to both sides, Justice Onyefulu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties. One of them must have a tax clearance certificate. The sureties must be related to the defendant, live within the jurisdiction of the court and have a National identification Number.
EFCC
The defendant was arrested when a petitioner, Ezeugwu Leonard Chinedu, claimed that he gave him the sum of N78, 295, 000 for onward transmission to his business partner in China.
Instead of remitting the money, the defendant remitted some and sent telex copies of “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the outstanding amount, which upon presentation to the partner in China, were found to be fake.
During the course of investigation, the defendant admitted receiving the said sum but added that he diverted part of the money for his personal use.
Nigerian Navy Storms Dayspring Island, Routs Militants, Demolishes Hideout In Cross River
The Nigerian Navy has escalated its offensive against criminal elements in the maritime domain, delivering decisive blows to militant networks operating along the Calabar–Oron channel in Cross River State.
In a series of aggressive clearance operations, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY and Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA stormed Dayspring Island following the recent surge in kidnappings and related criminal activities.
The operation was anchored on the establishment of a forward security outpost at Idung 1 (Peacock Crossing), providing a tactical foothold for sustained dominance of the creeks and adjoining waterways.
The rapid offensive forced suspected militants to abandon their positions and flee upon contact with advancing naval troops. Maintaining relentless pressure, Nigerian Navy personnel, in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade, secured key waterways and denied the criminals freedom of movement.
Eereporter.com
Exploitation of the area led to the discovery and destruction of a militant hideout linked to a notorious suspect known as “Juju” in the Idung axis. The suspect fled in disarray, abandoning two boats fitted with outboard engines, which were immediately seized. The hideout was subsequently demolished to eliminate its future use as a criminal sanctuary.
Further tightening the noose, troops tracked and apprehended one suspected informant providing support to the militant network. The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Nigerian Navy
To consolidate operational gains and choke criminal activity, a 13-hour restriction on maritime movement from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am has been enforced within the operational area.
Prior to the intervention, militant elements operated with impunity, conducting kidnappings and extorting riverine communities. The sustained naval onslaught has now degraded their operational capability, disrupted their logistics, and confined their activities deep within the creeks.
The Nigerian Navy remains resolute and will sustain this aggressive posture, ensuring that all criminal elements are flushed out and the maritime environment remains secure for lawful activities.
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