Abba Kyari: NDLEA arrest drug baron behind N3bn tramadol

Billionaire drug baron who is alleged to be behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Afam Mallinson Ukatu has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

The anti-narcotic agency said Ukatu’s arrest followed months of surveillance and evasion of arrest. Ukatu, who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies, was arrested onboard a flight to Abuja at the MM2 Terminal of the Murtala Muhammadu Airport, Ikeja Lagos on Wednesday, April 13.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘NDLEA arrests drug baron behind N3billion Tramadol linked to Abba Kyaris team’.

Babafemi said investigations revealed that the suspect has been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit. Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria. This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.

Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos. The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17 million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18 million and N20 million a carton in Lagos.

After the arrest of Ukatu’s staff: Pius Enidom and Sunday Ibekwete, Kyari’s men were then led by the suspects to Mallinson’s warehouse at Ojota in Lagos where 197 additional Cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized by the IRT Team. The monetary value of the 202 cartons of Tramadol seized from Mallinson in one day was over N3billion.

Three weeks after the seizure, the Kyari’s IRT team transferred only 12 Cartons of the Tramadol with one truck and a suspect to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA, leaving 190 cartons unaccounted for. After over eight months of following the lead, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency eventually arrested Ukatu at the Lagos airport on 13th April 2022. Kyari and four top members of his team are already facing trial for a different but similar offence at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

(Punch)

FOMWAN urges Nigerians to intensify supplication to God

Nigerians have been called upon to intensify supplications for peace and tranquility to prevail in the country.

The call was made Sunday by Sheikh Haris Salihu, at the one-day annual special prayers, organised by the Plateau state Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN).

He said at the Jos Central Mosque, venue of the prayers that: “Allah likes seeing His servants persisting in supplications, seeking for His forgiveness, mercies and protections.”

Sheikh Salihu who led the prayer session said women are so special in the sight of Allah, hence the need for them to always use their time to pray for the peace, security and tranquility of the society, the state and nation at large.

The secretary-general, Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), Sheikh Khalid Aliyu, harped on voter registration by the women, towards the 2023 general elections.

(Blueprint)

Keystone Bank empowers, trains young women on meter installation

In celebration of the 2022 International Women’s Day and in line with its commitment to empower women in Nigeria, Keystone Bank Limited through the Keystone Bank Women Economic Empowerment Committee (KWEEC) partnered with Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd. (MEMMCOL), to train and provide financial independence for young women.

Chairperson, KWEEC, Mrs. Helen Maiyegun, said the committee was set up in line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for commercial banks to support the empowerment of women in Nigeria.

According to her: “We have been training women on skills acquisition such as catering, bead making, fashion design among others, but this time we decided to think outside the box and this brought about the partnership with MEMMCOL.

“When you empower a woman, you are empowering the nation and that is why the Keystone Bank Women Economic Empowerment Committee monitoring and evaluation team will continue to monitor the progress of these women to ensure that they put into practice what they have learned.”

Mrs. Maiyegun further charged the trainees to be good ambassadors of Keystone Bank and Momas Metering School by utilizing the training to better their lives and encourage other women within their communities.

On his part, Mr. Kola Balogun, chairman, Momas Electrical Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd commended the bank for supporting these young women in their quest for financial independence and appealed to other corporate organizations as well as state and local governments to also key into this initiative to positively engage women.

Chairman of the Academic Board, Momas Metering School, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi also lauded the bank for providing a unique opportunity for young women, stressing that the initiative will not only add value to their lives but to their families, community, and Nigeria at large.

Keystone Bank is committed to championing women empowerment initiatives with focus on information sharing, capacity building, and networking programmes, amongst others. The bank has continued to work with like-minded organizations to ensure women have access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.

(Blueprint)