Benin: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo has successfully re-arrested Ibrahim Lawal, a suspected drug trafficker, who allegedly faked his own death in an attempt to evade legal proceedings.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the State Commander of the NDLEA, revealed this development through a statement on Tuesday. The 50-year-old suspect had initially been apprehended in 2022 for alleged drug trafficking but had managed to abscond after being granted bail. He was arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area while transporting psychotropic substances in a Toyota bus. The seized items reportedly included 0.257kg of Lexotan, one kilogramme of Diazepam, and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital, all concealed within the vehicle.
Dr. Ofoyeju stated that Lawal was facing charges related to the unlawful transportation of controlled substances under the NDLEA Act. Despite pleading not guilty, Lawal was released on bail but subsequently disap
peared, halting the trial proceedings. In a surprising twist, Lawal’s wife, Ibrahim Nana-Hawa, submitted an affidavit asserting that Lawal had succumbed to tuberculosis in October 2024 and had been buried according to Islamic customs in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area, Kogi.
Further investigation by the NDLEA operatives, guided by intelligence, uncovered that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was indeed alive. He was captured during a covert operation and is now in custody. Dr. Ofoyeju emphasized the alleged false claim of death as an obstruction of justice, warning that any individuals associated with this act could face legal consequences.
The suspect has since been re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Benin, under the jurisdiction of Justice B.O. Quadir. The case is scheduled to resume on June 22 for further hearings.