NDLEA rearrests ‘falsely declared dead’ Edo drug suspect

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, says it has re-arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and was later falsely declared dead by his wife in an attempt to evade prosecution.

Lawal was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court in Benin, where he is facing charges related to alleged drug trafficking offences.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect had been previously granted bail but absconded during ongoing legal proceedings. The agency further alleged that efforts to track him were complicated after his wife reportedly claimed he had died, a development investigators later discovered to be false.

Officials said the suspect was eventually re-arrested after intelligence-led operations and surveillance efforts by the agency’s Edo Command.

The NDLEA described the case as part of its ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking networks and individuals attempting to obstruct justice through deception or evasion of court processes.

Court proceedings are expected to continue as the prosecution presents its case against the defendant, while the agency maintains that efforts will continue to ensure accountability in narcotics-related offences across the state.