A resident pastor of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim has been arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun Lagos.
The pastor identified as Prophet Michael Raji was nabbed for unlawfully attempting to export of 174 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs to South Africa. He was arrested following the interception of the drug at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) during pre-shipment examination.
According to the Head, Public Affairs of the NDLEA, Ofoyeju Mitchell
said preliminary investigation has indicated that the 60 years old
suspect Michael Raji is a suspected top member of a drug syndicate
operating in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
Prophet Raji was said to have possessed three valid international passports bearing his photographs with the names Michael Raji and Kadigun Fatah Ola respectively. It was equally discovered that the church premises where he ministers also serves as a warehouse for narcotics.
The seized drugs concealed inside large bags of foodstuff were found to contain 91kg of Methamphetamine and 83kg of Ephedrine with an estimated street value of N609 million. A Mercedes Benz Jeep was also impounded during the operation.
Commander, NDLEA at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar described the suspect as a smooth operator. “I can tell you that this suspect is a smooth operator but we have uncovered his bag of tricks. The drugs were brought to the airport for export to South Africa where it was detected. Investigation eventually traced the movement of the drugs to his church premises where he was arrested,” Hamza stated.
Confessing to the crime, the suspect said that he collected the drugs from a friend. “I received the drugs from my friend and I kept them in the church since October 2014. I am the resident pastor of Cherubim and Seraphim Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun branch, Lagos. I attended Ansarudeen Primary and Secondary School Ibadan. I later attended Yaba College of Technology where I had my Trade Test in Electrical Installation. I was ordained a full time pastor in 1977. This is a great temptation for me and I pray to God to overcome it” Michael Raji stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade said that the game is up for the suspect. “The game is up for the suspect and we have strong evidence for prosecution. This is one of the largest seizures of psychotropic substances at the airport. We are working very hard to apprehend other accomplices and bring them to book” Giade stated.
Prophet Raji was said to have possessed three valid international passports bearing his photographs with the names Michael Raji and Kadigun Fatah Ola respectively. It was equally discovered that the church premises where he ministers also serves as a warehouse for narcotics.
The seized drugs concealed inside large bags of foodstuff were found to contain 91kg of Methamphetamine and 83kg of Ephedrine with an estimated street value of N609 million. A Mercedes Benz Jeep was also impounded during the operation.
Commander, NDLEA at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar described the suspect as a smooth operator. “I can tell you that this suspect is a smooth operator but we have uncovered his bag of tricks. The drugs were brought to the airport for export to South Africa where it was detected. Investigation eventually traced the movement of the drugs to his church premises where he was arrested,” Hamza stated.
Confessing to the crime, the suspect said that he collected the drugs from a friend. “I received the drugs from my friend and I kept them in the church since October 2014. I am the resident pastor of Cherubim and Seraphim Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun branch, Lagos. I attended Ansarudeen Primary and Secondary School Ibadan. I later attended Yaba College of Technology where I had my Trade Test in Electrical Installation. I was ordained a full time pastor in 1977. This is a great temptation for me and I pray to God to overcome it” Michael Raji stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade said that the game is up for the suspect. “The game is up for the suspect and we have strong evidence for prosecution. This is one of the largest seizures of psychotropic substances at the airport. We are working very hard to apprehend other accomplices and bring them to book” Giade stated.
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