NDLEA operative Zofun Setonji recounted how the agency successfully tracked down and apprehended notorious drug dealer Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidiogede, popularly known as ‘Temo,’ on July 22, 2024.
Setonji, testified in Federal High Court, Lagos State, that the successful arrest was the result of a combination of reliable intelligence gathering and continuous surveillance efforts.
Temo, also known as ‘Godfather’ or ‘001’, has been indicted on six counts, encompassing conspiracy, large-scale cannabis trafficking, organizing a narcotics network, and financial laundering.
Setonji testified that in April 2023, he received intel about Temo’s plot to smuggle drugs from Ghana into Nigeria through waterways, revealing the details under questioning from prosecutors Theresa Asuquo and Lambert Nor.
Setonji recounted how his team set up a sting operation at Eleko Beach on May 4, 2023, after verifying the shipment’s movement. Despite being tipped off about NDLEA surveillance, they successfully intercepted two trucks carrying 202 bags of marijuana, weighing a staggering 8.58 tonnes.
Setonji told the court that after the drug seizure, he received a threatening phone call from Temo, who said, “You have the guts to seize my drugs.
‘I know where you live, and I will kill you and kidnap your wife and children,” Setonji said.
The witness stated that he replied, and said, “Before you kill me, I will arrest you.”
Following this exchange, Setonji said he received further intelligence about Temo’s whereabouts.
He said the informant told him that Temo would attend a party in Sango Ota, Ogun State.
The witness further told the court that to gain entry, he purchased a special cap, which served as an invitation, and attended the party.
“Armed with this information, I gave my informant N3,500 for the cap and on the day of the party, I went to the party with the informant.
“On getting there, the informant stood outside while I went inside to the party venue with the cap on,” he said.
He stated that he recognised Temo, who arrived wearing a punk hairstyle and a long necklace, as described by the informant.
According to Setonji, on July 22, 2024, during a raid in the Igbarere area of Mushin, Lagos, he and his team encountered Temo, who was in a Mercedes Benz.
He added that upon sighting the NDLEA officers, Temo attempted to flee but was arrested despite resistance and an attempted assault on the team by local hoodlums.
Another NDLEA officer, Adewole Timothy, corroborated Setonji’s testimony, stating that after receiving intelligence about Temo’s drug activities in 2023, he conducted surveillance to verify the information.
He said that on July 25, 2024, during an operation at Igbarere Street, Mushin, Temo escaped when he saw the NDLEA officers, but his driver, Sulaimon Shehu, was arrested.
“The team found and seized 18 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 252 kg from Temo’s warehouse,” Timothy said.
Under cross-examination by Temo’s lawyer, Benson Ndakara, Timothy revealed that Shehu admitted in his statement that he was a close associate of Temo and that the drugs belonged to Temo.
Timothy also stated that although they did not verify the warehouse ownership from the Land Registry, the informant confirmed that it belonged to Temo.
Another prosecution witness, NDLEA exhibit keeper Nketai Benjamin, testified that he conducted tests on the confiscated drugs, which confirmed they were cannabis sativa.
Meanwhile, the test results, along with other related documents, were tendered in court as evidence.
Temo’s counsel, Ndakara, applied for bail for his client, while the prosecution.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu adjourned the hearing to October 15 and 16, 2024.
The judge said the date for ruling on the bail application would be communicated, to parties.
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