NDLEA re-arrests suspect who allegedly jumped bail and was falsely declared dead by his wife in Edo court case

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has re-arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly jumped bail and was falsely declared dead by his wife in an affidavit submitted before a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State.

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The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the development on Tuesday, stating that the suspect was brought before the Federal High Court in Benin on May 26, 2026, after investigations revealed that he was still alive despite claims of his death.

According to Ofoyeju, Lawal, 50, was initially arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State while allegedly transporting psychotropic substances.

The agency said the suspect was found with 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital concealed inside a white Toyota bus with registration number Abuja BWR 401 XC.

The NDLEA re-arrests suspect development follows years of legal proceedings after Lawal was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on unlawful transportation of controlled substances under the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Ofoyeju explained that although Lawal pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, he later absconded and stopped appearing in court for trial.

In what the agency described as a calculated attempt to evade justice, the suspect’s wife, identified as Ibrahim Nana Hawa, allegedly submitted an affidavit in October 2024 claiming that her husband died on October 3, 2024, after suffering from tuberculosis.

The affidavit reportedly stated that the suspect had been buried according to Islamic rites in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

However, intelligence-led investigations later uncovered that Lawal was alive.

“Our operatives, working on an intelligence report, uncovered the truth that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was very much alive. He was recently apprehended in a covert operation and taken into custody,” Ofoyeju said.

“He had earlier jumped bail and his wife fraudulently submitted an affidavit claiming he had died while they were living together at Iruvucheba, Okene, Kogi State,” he added.

The NDLEA re-arrests suspect case was refiled before Justice B.O. Quadir of the Federal High Court, Benin, on Tuesday, with the matter adjourned until June 22, 2026, for further hearing.

Ofoyeju described the alleged false death claim as a grave attempt to obstruct justice, warning that all parties connected to the scheme could face sanctions.

“The use of a false death affidavit to evade prosecution is a serious offence, and the command will not hesitate to sanction all parties involved, including the wife, for her role in this fraudulent scheme,” he stated.

The NDLEA commander also praised officers in Edo and Kogi states for their coordinated efforts in tracking down and re-arresting the suspect.

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He added that the case should serve as a powerful warning to drug traffickers and collaborators that no form of deception would shield them from prosecution.