TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared Ademola Afolabi Kazeem wanted over alleged illicit drug trafficking.

Kazeem is a Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels.

The anti-graft said Kazeem was declared wanted after he failed to honour NDLEA invitations and a subsequent order from a federal high court in Lagos.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has declared wanted Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed) over offences bordering on exportation and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as money laundering,” the anti-drug agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

NDLEA alleged that the Lagos socialite was discovered as the sponsor of some illicit drug traffickers who were recently arrested while attempting to export cocaine to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The agency disclosed that the socialite went underground after one Bolujoko Muyiwa Babalola, a Lagos BRT driver, who acts as his mule was arrested in June.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has declared wanted Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah KazeemMuhammed) over offences bordering on exportation and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as money laundering,” the anti-drug agency said.

“Following his failure to honour invitations sent to him, the agency approached a federal high court in Lagos with three prayers: to attach and seal his identified properties in Lagos and Ibadan; declare him wanted and block his bank account with a cash balance of two hundred and seventeen million naira (N217,000,000.00), all of which were granted.

“As a result, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 26th October 2022 sealed six of the identified properties located on Lagos Island.

“They include 105 Tokunbo street off Broad street, Lagos Island; 1 Abibu Oki street off Marina, Lagos Island; 3 Abibu Oki street off Marina, Lagos Island; 54 Palm Church street, Lagos Island; 26 Agarawu street, Lagos Island; and 41 Foresythe street, Lagos Island. The other one is located at 1 Irepodun zone, Adepoju bus stop, Ajoda Ayedun, Ibadan, Oyo state.”

In a related development, the NDLEA announced the arrest of one Udemezue Obunike William at the Abuja international airport on his return from Brazil over alleged links with illicit drugs.

According to NDLEA, Udemezue was arrested following an earlier arrest of some drug couriers linked with him.