Wednesday, May 24, 2017

NDLEA secures interim forfeiture order for billion naira assets traced socialite


Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Arike Fumilola Ogundipe, who was implicated in a case of unlawful exportation of 1.595kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia in February 2017 and recently declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has finally reported at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos.
This was even as the Agency disclosed that it has secured an interim forfeiture order for several assets worth billions of naira traced to Ogbuaya, an indigene of Ilesa, Osun State.

Ogbuaya, reported at the NDLEA office at the weekend in response to the manhunt organised for her in relation to the investigation of Odeyemi Omolara Morayo a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi. The said Olabisi was caught with cocaine on her way to Saudi Arabia.
Subsequently, the Lagos residence of Ogbuaya was traced by a team of investigators, but she was not at home. She has, for several months, ignored invitations from the Agency requesting her to clear herself in an ongoing cocaine investigation.

The Agency is working for a final forfeiture order on the landed properties worth several billions of naira traced to Ogbuaya in Lagos, Ogun and Osun States. The assets include Arike Plaza, some plots of land and buildings in strategic locations.

The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has assured that investigation is ongoing. "It is good that she has reported to the Agency and investigation is ongoing. The NDLEA remain committed to her statutory functions in the campaign against drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse. We are also working to prevent drug cartels from enjoying the proceeds of illicit drugs. Sequel to the investigation of assets traced to the suspect, the Agency has secured an interim forfeiture while efforts are ongoing to get a final forfeiture."

The NDLEA boss also noted that asset forfeiture is an important requirement in the NDLEA Act and assured that no stone shall be left unturned in the race for total incapacitation of drug traffickers.

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