A Federal High Court, Lagos, today, ordered interim forfeiture/attachment of a landed property located at No. 23 Sunny Mbilla East Street, Bucknor Estate, Lagos, two mercedes benz trucks, alleged used in trafficking 91.5 tons of narcotic drugs.
Others items forfeited by Justice Daniel Osiagor, who presided over the court are: 390 Cartoons of Viagra Drug; 126 Buckets of POP Paint; 7 Cartons of LED Bulbs; 1 Cooking Gas Cylinder; 47 Cartons of manual grinder; 1 mattress; 90 Cartons of Rice Sticks; 6 Cartons of Vegetable Oil;178 Cartons of Real Extra and Chest and Lungs Tablets, which were either seized or abandoned at Badagry, Lagos.
Justice Osiagor ordered the interim forfeiture of the landed property, vehicles and other items, while granting a motion Exparte application, filed by Barrister Buhari abdullahi, the head of legal department of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Tactical Command.
In praying the court to grant the order sought for, Barrister Buhari said the request was pursuant to Sections 44(2) (b), 6 (6) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (AS/s amended); Sections 3(1) (a),(b) & (c), 31(a), & 41 (b) (iv) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30, LFN 2004 (as amended); Sections 4 (b), (c) 7, 8 (1) (a), 9 (1), (3) (b) & 4 and 10 (1) of the Proceeds of Crimes Recovery And Management Act 2022, and Under the court’s Inherent jurisdiction.
In the application, Barrister Buhari particularly sought for the followings: “an order of preservation and attachment in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria and in custody of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of properties listed and described in annexures NDLEA 1 and 2, used as an instrumentalities for storage, concealment and distribution of 4.6 tons of Tramadol drug and 85 tons of Cough Syrup with Codeine both narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.
“An order directing the applicant (NDLEA) to publish the Order of Preservation and Attachment of the properties in the national daily newspaper for a period of Fourteen (14) days for third party claim. And for such further Order(s) as this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”
The grounds listed for court to grant the orders sought for include: “the landed properties sought to be preserved and attached was used as a means of conveyance, storage and concealment of narcotic drug. And that investigation in to the said properties sought to be preserved and attached revealed to have been used for of illicit drug business’ cover up, storage facility for drug and means of transportation.
“That continued keeping of the properties will cause their decay and depreciation in value.”
The NDLEA’s lawyer further informed the court that the Exparte motion is supported with an affidavit of 27 paragraphs, deposed to by one Akande Titus Adeshola, a Superintendent of Narcotics (SC) and the officer in charge of NDLEA’s Asset and Financial Investigation of the Sensitive Investigation Unit.
Ruling on the motion Exparte, Justice Osiagor held that: “I have listened to the submission of counsel, and read through all the documents in support. I found that the application has merit, and same is granted as prayed.”
The matter has been adjourned to May 26, 2026, for report.
