The NDLEA alleges that Ugochukwu Nsofor has about six mansions within the VGC, one of which he uses to warehouse his tramadol consignment
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday granted an order sought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to detain
a Lagos-based billionaire, Nsofor Kennedy Ugochukwu, a.k.a, Ugochukwu Nsofor Chukwukadibia, in its custody for a period of 14 days pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation for alleged drug trafficking.
The court granted the order following an Exparte application brought by NDLEA Prosecutor, Mr Umar Hussain, which empowered the Agency to remand the defendant in its custody for 14 days.
In an affidavit in support of the Motion Exparte deposed to by one Kareem Olayinka Musibau, a litigation officer attached to the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, it was averred “that the suspect, Ugochukwu Nsofor, was arrested at Plot-2-130, Road 67 VGC Housing Estate along Epe Express Way in Lagos on the 30th day of September 2022 in connection to the seizure of 10,598 kilogrammes of tramadol, while dealing and 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. 9.
“That it will serve the interest of justice if this Application is granted.”
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NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, had earlier in his submission said that following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Friday 30th of September, 2022 stormed Plot A45 Road 2 home of the 52-year-old billionaire drug kingpin.
Babafemi stated that a search of the expansive mansion led to the discovery of 443 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg, which contains 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 Nsofor who hails from Ihiala Local Government area of Anambra State has been on the agency’s watch list as one of those behind the tramadol drug cartel in Nigeria.
“Preliminary investigation shows 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 bulletproof jeep have been successfully removed to the Agency’s facility,” Babafemi said.
According to Babafemi, the arrest of Ugochukwu Nsofor, who is the Chairman of Autonation Motors Limited is coming barely two months after NDLEA uncovered a methamphetamine clandestine laboratory in the residence of another drug kingpin in the estate, Chris Emeka Nzewi, who was arrested on Saturday 30th July, 2022 along with a chemist, Sunday Ukah, who cooked the illicit drug for him.