NDLEA Nabs Fleeing Lagos Cleric for Orchestrating Cross-Border Drug Operations

After months on the run, the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele — also known as Abbas Ajakaiye — has been arrested in Lagos by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over his alleged role in coordinating large-scale shipments of illicit drugs into Nigeria.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the cleric was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, along Ogombo Road, Lekki. Operatives reportedly laid in wait from morning until after the evening service before moving in as he stepped out of the premises.

According to Babafemi, Olasele had previously evaded arrest twice before fleeing to Ghana in June, following the interception of two consignments of Ghana Loud — a potent strain of cannabis — linked to him. The first seizure, weighing 200 kilogrammes, was made on June 4, 2025, at Okun Ajah beach, while another 700-kilogramme load was recovered from his delivery van on July 6, 2025.

In a written statement, the suspect allegedly admitted transporting the drugs by boat from Ghana into Nigeria. He also confirmed he had been hiding in Ghana since narrowly escaping arrest on two occasions.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operations across the country last week yielded further arrests and seizures:

• Lagos: A raid on Kishi House, 11 Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, led to the arrest of Benjamin Ukoh and the recovery of 15.63 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud.
• Nasarawa: Three suspects — Emmanuel Asoquo (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) — were caught in New Karu with 3,093 kilogrammes of skunk.
• Kano: Nura Yahaya (29) was arrested in Geza, Kumbotso, with 359 kilogrammes of skunk, while Umar Adamu Umar (27) was caught along Zaria–Kano road with 9 kilogrammes of Colorado. Another suspect, Usman Musa (30), was found with 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam injections at Gadar Tamburawa.
• Gombe: A raid in Tudun Wadan Pantami uncovered 550,266 opioid pills, mostly tramadol, with Usama Isah arrested. The next day, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was intercepted along Potiskum road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
• Edo: A Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Onitsha to Isanlu was stopped at Ewu junction, leading to the arrest of Taiye Jethro and the seizure of 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets of the same drug, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo Commands for their coordinated efforts, urging officers nationwide to sustain the agency’s “balanced approach” to drug control.