By Abigail David

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected Nigerian coordinator of an international cocaine trafficking network while allegedly attempting to flee the country for Paris.

The agency said the operation followed the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine concealed in a consignment for export through a courier company in Lagos. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the drugs could have generated an estimated N39 billion for the cartel.

According to the agency, investigations led to the arrest of two key suspects, including logistics company employee Lawal Mujab Kehinde and Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known online as “KC Luxury.”

NDLEA identified Michael as the alleged Nigerian arrowhead of the syndicate, which reportedly moved cocaine from South America through Nigeria to the UK, other European countries and Asia.

Marwa said Michael was arrested at the boarding gate of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on August 13 while allegedly preparing to travel business class to Paris.

The suspect was reportedly found with €7,750, £2,800 and N100,000, as well as jewellery. A search of his luxury apartment on Banana Island, Lagos, also led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, the agency said.

NDLEA said the investigation revealed the cartel used intermediary companies, false identities and financial facilitators to conceal its activities.

The agency said some suspected members of the network had also been arrested by authorities in the UK.

By Abigail David

The Plateau State Police Command says four suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged mob killing of University of Jos graduate and model, Ibrahim Mbaya, popularly known as “Ibee,” while two other suspects remain at large.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Alfred Alabo, disclosed this on Tuesday while parading the suspects in Jos. He said investigations revealed that six people were directly involved in the fatal assault, with efforts ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

According to Alabo, the police were alerted by a Good Samaritan after the victim was rushed to hospital in critical condition following a brutal attack. Mbaya later died from the injuries he sustained.

The police said three suspects were initially arrested and allegedly admitted to their roles during interrogation. A fourth suspect was later taken into custody as investigations progressed.

Alabo identified one of the suspects as Emmanuel Newyear, alleging that he was seen assaulting the deceased with a wooden plank during the attack. Another suspect, Joshua Tell, was also arrested as part of the ongoing investigation.

The command said preliminary findings indicate that the suspects shared a common educational background, prompting collaboration with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) during the investigation.

Police assured residents that everyone linked to the incident would be identified and brought to justice. The command also warned against jungle justice, urging members of the public to report criminal allegations to law enforcement agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.

Authorities appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward, assuring the public that all information would be treated confidentially.

The death of Mbaya has generated widespread concern in Jos, with residents and civil society groups calling for justice and stronger action to curb mob violence across Plateau State.

By Abigail David

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, has convicted Haruna Mamuda and Sadiq Umar for impersonating officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defraud members of the public.

According to a statement issued by the EFCC, Justice M. Zubairu convicted the two men on Thursday after they pleaded guilty to a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, impersonation and unlawful representation.

The EFCC alleged that the convicts, alongside Salifu Olije Mustapha, who is standing trial separately before an FCT High Court in Kubwa, conspired in March 2026 to falsely present themselves as EFCC officers in violation of the Penal Code Act.

Following the guilty pleas, prosecution counsel R. U. Adagba urged the court to convict the defendants. Defence lawyers appealed for leniency, citing their clients’ remorse, cooperation with investigators and, in one case, the absence of a previous criminal record.

During the proceedings, the prosecution also informed the court that the defendants were brought from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where they are facing separate charges related to alleged terrorism financing and kidnapping. Those allegations remain before the court and have not been determined.

Justice Zubairu adjourned the case until July 22, 2026, for sentencing and ordered that the two convicts remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing.