Tramadol Bust: Court Orders Further Detention Of Billionaire Drug Lord

Lagos-based billionaire drug lord Ugochukwu Nsofor Chukwukadibia is to remain in custody following a court order by Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting.

Per reports, the detention order was given in Lagos on Thursday and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was given leave to keep the suspect.

Aluko gave the order following an ex parte application by the NDLEA Prosecutor, Umar Hussain, which empowered the Agency to remand the defendant in its custody for an initial period of 14 days.

Speaking in an affidavit in support of the motion ex parte deposed to by a litigation officer attached to the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services at the NDLEA, Kareem Musibau, Hussain disclosed that Ugochukwu was apprehended at Plot Z-130, Road 67 VGC Housing Estate along Epe Expressway in Lagos on September 30, 2022, in connection to the seizure of 10,598 kilogrammes of tramadol.

He added that the suspect was conspiring to distribute same to his associates in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

“That the Respondent is an illicit drug baron operating a Drug Trafficking Organisation in collaboration with his associates in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

“That this court has the powers under the law to make the orders sought on the motion paper nine.

“That it will serve the interest of justice if this application is granted.”

NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement had revealed how NDLEA operatives stormed the residence of the drug lord.

According to him, the search led to the discovery of 443 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg containing 13,451,466 pills of the drug while some cartons were already burnt in a fire incident in the house the same day.

“Before his arrest, Ugochukwu who hails from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State has been on the Agency’s watchlist as one of those behind the tramadol drug cartel in Nigeria.

“Preliminary investigation showed that he has about six mansions within the VGC, one of which he uses to warehouse the tramadol consignment, while he lives in the one at Plot Z-130 Road 67 and another as his office.

"Five exotic vehicles have also been located in two of his mansions, out of which two SUVs including a bullet jeep have been successfully removed to the Agency’s facility,” he said.