In the last few years, a handful of Nigerian celebrities have been arrested and some convicted for various hard drugs-related crimes.
Marlian Music duo of Zinoleesky and Mohbad are the most recent Nigerian celebrities to be arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In this list, we reveal 8 Nigerian celebrities arrested for drug-related crimes.
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Nigerian Celebrities Arrested For Drug-Related Offenses
1. Babtunde Omidina (Baba Suwe)
Veteran Nigerian actor, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe makes my list of Nigerian celebrities arrested for drug-related crimes, as his case is a very pathetic one.
Baba Suwe was arrested at the Muritala Muhammad Airport as he tried to board an Air France flight, and was accused of allegedly concealing drugs in his stomach. The drugs were allegedly discovered when the actor passed through the scanning machine.
The comic actor was arrested and charged to court, where he was discharged and acquitted and was reportedly asked to be compensated by the NDLEA, a compensation he never got.
Baba Suwe died in 2021 from complications gotta during his ordeal with the NDLEA, and this also gets him on our list of Nigerian celebrities that died in 2021.
2. CDQ
Next on the list is a popular Nigerian rapper, Sodiq Abubakar Yussuf, popularly known as CDQ.
CDQ was arrested on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at his residence in Lekki by operatives of the NDLEA following Intelligence reports.
The NDLEA said they found some substance known as ‘loud’, a cannabis variant in the rapper’s house.
3. Tochi Uche Odobuta
Ace Nigerian actor, Uche Odobuta also makes this list of Nigerian celebrities arrested for drug-related crimes, as he was arrested on March 23, 2007, for attempting to smuggle 1.336kg of cocaine.
Uche Odobuta was arrested by men of the NDLEA at Muritala Muhammad International Airport, when he attempted to board a Virgin Atlantic Airways flight to London, England.
The actor said he was lured into the act by his London friends. He was reported to have been sentenced to eight months in prison.
4. Hassanat Akinwande Taiwo (Yetunde Wunmi)
Another Nigerian movie star that was arrested for a drug-related crime is Hassanat Akinwande Taiwo, popularly known as Yetunde Wunmi.
Investigations revealed that the actress was intercepted by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) as she was about to board a Virgin Atlantic plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to London.
She was reportedly injected to excrete the cocaine she swallowed. Yetunde Wunmi excreted cocaine wraps (condom-size), numbering in excess of 90.
After her excretion, she was taken to the Shaw Road, Ikoyi, Lagos office of NDLEA to undergo interrogation and was eventually lightly jailed. This has left a dent in her career to date which she is yet to recover from.
5. Fatoke Abiodun
King Sunny Ade’s ex-lead guitarist, Fatoke Abiodun was arrested and sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos for drug trafficking.
The veteran guitarist was arrested while trying to board an Air France flight to Italy at the Muritala Muhammad International Airport, and 1.575kg of cocaine was recovered from him.
The drug was discovered in the false bottom of his luggage during the screening of passengers to Italy.
Abiodun owned up to the crime, blaming his involvement on financial hardship.
Last but not least on my list of Nigerian celebrities arrested for drug-related crime is…
6. Orezi
Popular Nigerian musician, Allen Esegine, better known as Orezi, was reportedly arrested back in 2011 for his involvement in drug-related crime.
Rumors had it that Orezi was arrested in Dubai, UAE, for possession and intent to distribute narcotic products.
This rumor was vigorously denied by the musician and his team. According to the artiste’s former manager, the story is a fabrication and an underhand attempt to tarnish the image of the musician. While the rumor dissipated afterward, many still remained unconvinced.
7. De General
Comedian De General has his home invaded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on January 12, 2022.
The NDLEA said it recovered some cannabis Sativa, 225mg worth of tramadol, and some paraphernalia for drug use, to which the comedian admitted ownership and was arrested alongside three other persons.
They are set to be arraigned as the agency has already filed charges against De General.
Oniyide Azeez popularly known as Zinoleesky and Ilerioluwa Oladimeji, known as Mohbad, were arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA in the early hours of Thursday, February 24, in their Lekki home, Lagos state.
In a video on social media, the agents stormed the building without arrest warrants and were seen hitting the artists with clubs and forcing them into a waiting bus.
The entire scene was chaotic as some ladies who were with the artists at the time of the arrest were heard screaming and condemning the violence meted out on the music stars.
That’s our take on Fact File this week.
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