By Jethro Ibileke
The wife of a suspected drug trafficker, Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, allegedly attempted to mislead a court by submitting a fake affidavit claiming that her husband had died, only for operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to discover that he was alive and living in Kogi State.
Commander of the NDLEA in Edo State, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday after Lawal, 50, was re-arrested and re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Benin City on drug trafficking charges.
Ofoyeju said Lawal was initially arrested on February 5, 2022, at Ugbekun Junction in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State while allegedly transporting psychotropic substances concealed in a white Toyota bus with registration number BWR 401 XC.
According to him, the suspect was found with 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital.
He said Lawal was subsequently charged on a three-count charge bordering on the unlawful transportation of controlled substances, contrary to the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“After pleading not guilty to the charges, Lawal was granted bail by the court. However, he absconded and failed to appear for his trial,” Ofoyeju said.
The NDLEA commander further revealed that in what he described as a desperate bid to frustrate prosecution, the suspect’s wife, identified as Ibrahim Nana Hawa, swore to an affidavit in October 2024, declaring that her husband had died after battling tuberculosis.
“The affidavit, which was submitted to the court, stated that she was a citizen of Nigeria residing in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and that her husband died on October 3, 2024, following a protracted illness and was buried according to Islamic rites,” he stated.
Ofoyeju said the agency became suspicious and launched an investigation which later uncovered that the suspect was alive.
“Our operatives, acting on intelligence, discovered that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was very much alive and living with his family. He was eventually apprehended in a covert operation and taken back into custody,” he added.
Lawal was on Tuesday re-arraigned before Justice B. O. Quadir of the Federal High Court, Benin City, who adjourned the matter till June 22, 2026, for further hearing.
Describing the incident as an attempt to obstruct justice, Ofoyeju warned that all those involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme, including the suspect’s wife, could face sanctions.
“This was a calculated attempt to pervert the course of justice. The use of a false death affidavit to evade prosecution is a grave offence, and the command will not hesitate to ensure that everyone connected to the act is brought to book,” he said.
