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Nigerian Businessman Arrested At Enugu Airport For Ingesting 90 Wraps Of Cocaine ‘To Save Failing Business’

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 50-year-old businessman, Iheanacho Osuoha, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine.

Osuoha was intercepted on Wednesday at the arrival hall of the Enugu airport during the inbound screening of passengers arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

The anti-drug agency also reported dismantling a drug syndicate in the country led by a Chinese national, Tianzhen Yen, aka Jackie, for aiding and possessing 4.3 grams of cocaine, along with other substances.

A statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday explained that Osuoha’s arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.

“He was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he egested 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.019 kilograms in seven excretions. Investigation reveals that the suspect, who operates a phone and accessories business in Lagos and Gabon, Central Africa, travelled by road from Gabon to Douala, Cameroon, from where he took a flight to Addis Ababa, where he swallowed the pellets of cocaine while in transit and thereafter continued his journey to Enugu with Lagos as his final destination,” Babafemi added.

The NDLEA PRO noted that Osuoha deliberately complicated his movement to obscure traces of his travel history, unaware that he had been on the agency’s watchlist for the past three months.

“In his statement, Osuoha said he desperately needed the money from the criminal drug trade to boost his declining phone and accessories business,” Babafemi continued.

In a related operation, Babafemi noted that Jackie was arrested after NDLEA operatives intercepted a bus driven by Yakubu Mark, which was en route to Ghana, and found 750 grams of cocaine in the vehicle.

He said, “Another drug syndicate operated by a Chinese man, 58-year-old Tianzhen Yen (alias Jackie), has been dismantled by NDLEA operatives following his arrest at his hotel in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

“Officers of the Seme Special Area Command of the agency had on Thursday, November 21, intercepted a 40-year-old suspect, Yakubu Emmanuel Mark, in a commercial bus going to Ghana at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Expressway based on credible intelligence.

“When he was searched, a total of 750 grams of cocaine were found in his bag. A swift follow-up operation was organised to trace and arrest the kingpin behind the trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, who turned out to be a Chinese citizen, Tianzhen Yen.

“He was eventually traced to the MC Hotel behind Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. When his hotel room was searched, 4.3 grams of cocaine, a gram of methamphetamine, two electronic weighing scales, and a Chinese National Identification Number Card, among other exhibits, were recovered while he was arrested in the vicinity of the hotel.”

Babafemi also reported that in another well-coordinated operation by the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit on Thursday, 42-year-old Ndive Obinna, the head of a cocaine distribution cartel, was arrested along with five associates at Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

He noted that 2.412 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from the group.

“Other members of the drug trafficking organisation arrested along with Obinna include: Okeke Gloria Ifeoma, who is the syndicate’s stash keeper; Ikechebelu Emmanuel Chibuzor; Okorie Onyedikachi; Okonkwo Nnabugo Prince; and Okafor Blessing Anita,” Babafemi said.

At the Tin Can Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Friday, November 22, intercepted 92 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 23.25 kilograms. The drugs were concealed in two vehicles imported from Canada—a Nissan car and a GMC bus.

Babafemi added that the discovery was made during a joint examination of a container from Canada, carried out by NDLEA officers, men of the Nigeria Customs Service, and other stakeholders.

In Rivers State, Babafemi stated that NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Port complex, Onne, intercepted two containers of imported opioids during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on November 21.

“A total of 168,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N1,176,000,000 only in street value were recovered from one of the containers, while the second one contained 4,500,000 pills of super royal tramadol 225mg, valued at N3,150,000,000 only, bringing the combined value of both the codeine and tramadol consignments to N4,326,000,000 only,” the statement added.

In Ekiti State, Babafemi reported the arrest of a 50-year-old woman with a disability who was caught with 286 grams of drugs.

He said, “In Ekiti State, the NDLEA operatives on Sunday, November 17, arrested a 50-year-old physically challenged woman, Mustapha Boja, with 286 grams of Colorado and Loud strains of cannabis at Araromi Street, Ikere-Ekiti, while 64 kilograms of cannabis sativa were recovered at Akinyele motor park, Ibadan, Oyo State on Thursday.”

BIG STORY

NDPC Fines MultiChoice N766m For ‘Violating Privacy Of Subscribers’

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The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has imposed a fine of N766.24 million on MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, for “violating the privacy of subscribers and their friends”.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, head of legal, enforcement and regulations at NDPC, the commission explained that the sanction followed an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024.

NDPC said MultiChoice was found to have breached the Nigeria Data Protection (NDP) Act after an inquiry into alleged violations of the privacy rights of its subscribers and the illegal cross-border transfer of personal data belonging to Nigerians.

“NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers,” the commission stated.

“The Commission also found that Multichoice carries out illegal cross-border transfer of personal data relating to data subjects in Nigeria.

“The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. This is a grave affront to fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Nigeria is entitled to protect her citizens, and data sovereignty under both international and extant municipal laws – as these have far-reaching implication for rule of law, national security and economic growth.

“In line with its standard remediation procedure, the Commission directed Multichoice to carry out appropriate remedial measures. However, the Commission found the measures undertaken by Multichoice in this regard unsatisfactory.

“For want of cooperation, the Commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act.”

NDPC also stated that Vincent Olatunji, the national commissioner of the agency, has directed that every outlet through which MultiChoice collects Nigerians’ personal data be investigated for possible non-compliance.

Olatunji emphasized that any outlet processing personal data in violation of the NDP Act would be subject to a penalty as stipulated by the Act.

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BIG STORY

US Court Jails Nigerian Pastor Over $4.2million COVID-19 Fraud As Monarch Forfeits Properties

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They appeared before Justice Christopher Boyko at the US District Court of Ohio.

A Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, has been sentenced by a United States District Court to 27 months in prison for defrauding the COVID-19 relief fund.

His associate, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, forfeited his property to the US government while awaiting a court ruling set for August 1.

Oluwasanmi and Oba Oloyede were arrested in early 2024 for fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

They were charged with 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminal proceeds.

They were brought before Justice Christopher Boyko at the US District Court of Ohio.

Reports indicated both men pleaded guilty to some of the charges under a plea agreement.

According to court documents, Judge Boyko sentenced Oluwasanmi on Wednesday, July 2, to 27 months on counts one, 11, and 12 of the indictment.

The sentences will run concurrently.

The court also ordered Oluwasanmi to pay a $15,000 fine and report to the U.S. Marshal Service.

The court stated, “Supervised release three years on each of counts 1 and 11-12, all such terms to run concurrently, with standard and special conditions.”

It also declared, “As a result of the foregoing offenses, defendants Joseph Oloyede and Edward Oluwasanmi shall forfeit to the United States: all property, real and personal, which constitutes – or is derived from – proceeds traceable to the commission of the wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy offenses; all property constituting, or derived from, proceeds the defendants obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of the wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy offenses and any and all property, real and personal involved in the money laundering offenses, and any property traceable to such property.”

Oluwasanmi will forfeit a commercial property located at 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio. Meanwhile, the court scheduled Friday, August 1, for the sentencing of Oloyede after the monarch pleaded guilty to counts one and 13 of his indictment.

On Monday, April 21, Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information systems professional crowned Apetu in July 2019, entered his guilty plea before the court.

Oba Oloyede and Oluwasanmi were accused of submitting fake applications for the Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans under the US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act between April 2020 and February 2022.

They allegedly used falsified tax and wage documents to obtain funds intended to help struggling businesses during the pandemic.

The Act was meant to offer emergency financial relief to Americans facing the economic consequences of COVID-19 by providing loans to small businesses and nonprofits.

Oba Oloyede was alleged to have used some of his companies, including Available Tax Services Incorporated, Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to commit the fraud.

Following the monarch’s disappearance, the Osun State Government said it would wait for the conclusion of his trial before deciding on any action.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said, “A person is innocent until a court convicts them. So, we don’t want to jump the gun; let us wait for the court’s pronouncement on the matter.”

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BIG STORY

UK Grants Duty-free Access To 3,000 Nigerian Products Under New Trade Scheme

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The United Kingdom has revealed that more than 3,000 Nigerian products, such as cocoa and cashew, are now eligible to enter the UK market either duty-free or at reduced tariffs. The Country Director for the UK Department for Business and Trade, Mark Smithson, announced this development as part of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) in a recent video released by the UK in Nigeria.

“Up to 3,000 products from Nigeria qualify for low tariff or no tariff access to the UK through the Developing Countries Scheme, one of the most generous trading schemes in the world,” Smithson stated.

He added that the UK has streamlined the process for Nigerian exporters, making it simpler to trade a wide range of goods, including cocoa and textiles.

Smithson urged Nigerian exporters to take advantage of this opportunity.

“The UK is open and looking to do business with Nigeria. So why don’t you go to the website and find out more about the Developing Countries Trading Scheme and begin to trade with us?”

The DCTS, launched in 2023, replaced the UK’s former Generalised Scheme of Preferences. It aims to lower tariffs and simplify trading regulations for over 60 developing countries, Nigeria included.

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