The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has re-arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and was falsely declared dead by his wife in an affidavit submitted before a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the suspect was brought before the Federal High Court in Benin on May 26, 2026, after investigations revealed that he was alive despite claims of his death.
According to Ofoyeju, Lawal, 50, was initially arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State while transporting psychotropic substances.
He said the suspect was found in possession of 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital concealed in a white Toyota bus with registration number Abuja BWR 401 XC.
The NDLEA commander explained that Lawal was subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on unlawful transportation of controlled substances under the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
After pleading not guilty, the suspect was granted bail by the court but later absconded and failed to appear for trial.
In what the agency described as an attempt to evade prosecution, Lawal’s wife, identified as Ibrahim Nana Hawa, allegedly submitted an affidavit in October 2024 claiming that her husband died on October 3, 2024, after suffering from tuberculosis.
The affidavit reportedly stated that the couple resided in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State and that the suspect had been buried according to Islamic rites.
The NDLEA, however, said intelligence-led investigations later uncovered that the suspect was still alive.
Ofoyeju said operatives acting on intelligence tracked and apprehended Lawal in a covert operation before taking him back into custody.
He described the alleged false death claim as a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice, warning that the agency would not hesitate to sanction all individuals involved, including the suspect’s wife, for their alleged roles in the scheme.
Lawal was re-arraigned before Justice B.O. Quadir on Tuesday, while the matter was adjourned until June 22, 2026, for further hearing.
The NDLEA commander commended officers in Edo and Kogi states for their efforts in tracking and re-arresting the suspect, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to combating illicit drug trafficking across the country.
