Photos: Ojukwu’s Niece, 4 others arrested for drug trafficking

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency NDLEA have arrested five people including
one Ijeoma Ojukwu, a niece to late Chief
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and three
others namely Victor Umeh, Uche Igwelo and
Egbuche Fidelis Osiita over the trafficking of
2.24kg of substance believed to be cocaine from
Brazil. Also being investigated is a staff of
NDLEA. NDLEA officials believe that 48 year old
Ijeoma who runs a restaurant in Brazil is believed
to be a member of an international drug
syndicate.
Speaking on the arrest, the agency’s commander
at the airport, Ahmadu Garba said a luggage
tagged for Agina Fidelis Ejike, was abandoned at
the arrival hall during inward screening of
passengers on an Emirates flight on December 28.
“On January 1, 2016, one Egbuche Fidelis Osita
came with authority letter mandating him to
collect the bag. In the process, some white
powdery substance weighing 2.24kg that tested
positive for cocaine was discovered. The drug
was neatly packed in four parcels concealed in
false bottom of four female handbags.”
“My brother came from Brazil and could not find
his bag. It was in the process of trying to get the
bag out that we were arrested.”
Uche Igwelo, 36, a public administration graduate,
said she was invited by Ijeoma to assist in
collecting the bag.
“I sell kitchen utensil and I am married with a
child. Ijeoma met me that I should help him to
collect a bag at the airport. We were trying to get
the bag when NDLEA officers arrested us,” Uche,
an Anambra native told investigators, according
to an official statement from NDLEA.
Egbuche Fidelis Osita, a 37-year-old student said
that he was asked to collect the bag. “I am a 400
level student studying English Education at the
Ekiti State University. My friend Victor Umeh was
the person that asked me to help in claiming a
luggage at the airport. We all drove to the airport
where I was given a letter of authority and other
documents of the passenger that came with the
luggage. In the process of trying to collect the
bag I was arrested. This is all I know about this
incident,” Osita said.