By Ibironke Ariyo
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have taken into custody a wanted drug baron, Ganiu Suleiman (a.k.a Barryshine) two years after coming under the radar of the anti-narcotics Agency.
This was disclosed in a statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, on Friday in Abuja.
Babafemi said Suleiman is the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd and is on the agency’s watch list for his alleged role in four failed attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
He said this was done between 2022 and 2024 through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
He added that his name first appeared on November 13, 2021, when a passenger on a Qatar Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, Alhaja Ajisegiri Sidika, was arrested at the MMIA with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in women’s shoes.
He also added that investigations later revealed that Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, Suleiman’s brother, hired the arrested drug courier.
“Other facts revealed that the suspect’s plane tickets and other travel expenses came from Solimão.
“Days after Sidika’s arrest, another drug courier, Lateef Lawal, was also arrested on November 24, 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams, hidden in men’s shoes, on his way to the same destination, Saudi Arabia .
“The suspect Lawal confessed that Wasiu Sanni (also known as Professor), who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him for Suleiman.
“Lawal further alleged that Wasiu connected him to the Baron through one Igbono, who was later revealed during investigation to be Oluwafemi Abidoye (also known as Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje and Ejeoto) acted,” he said.
While the investigation of the two cases was ongoing and the hunt for the Baron was underway, two drug traffickers were arrested at the MMIA on June 21, 2024, on their way to Doha, Qatar.
Babafemi said one of the suspects, later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel (also known as Oladapo Olanrewaju), brought a total of 90 cocaine pellets weighing 1,022 kg into police custody.
He said the suspect ingested the 90 cocaine tablets, adding that the second suspect, Ayigoro Omobolaji, also excreted 60 cocaine tablets with a total weight of 662 grams.
He also said that further investigation later revealed that the two arrested couriers, Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Omobolaji, were recruited by the same Igbono who worked for the Baron and was present at the arrest of ‘Ajesegiri Sidika and Lateef Lawal in 2022.
He added that financial investigations conducted by the agency also linked Baron Suleiman to the detained suspects and two of his associates who recruited human traffickers for him: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large.
“As a result, the authority blocked the bank accounts associated with the cartel members, after which Suleiman was finally taken into custody on August 26, 2024 for further investigation.”
“In his statements, Suleiman stated that he was involved in property development and hotel management during his stay in Lagos and Paris, France.
“He also said that he and his wife had another business selling fabrics at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia were for the purpose of carrying out a small pilgrimage.”
“He said he had the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land). Properties attributed to Suleiman already include: two houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Meta, and his Barryshine Hotel at 95 Freeman Street, Yaba, Lagos,” he said.
Meanwhile, Justice Dipeolu Deinde of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an application by the NDLEA to extend the arrest of drug lord Suleiman by 30 days.
Babafemi said the court also granted the application to declare his two associates – Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large, wanted.
“While ruling on the ex parte application in Case No: FHC/L/MISC/555/24, Justice Dipeolu said a warrant had been issued to Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye alias “Igbono”, ‘Murphy’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaya’, ‘Baba Eje’, ‘Ejeoto’ wanted.
“He is currently at large due to his involvement in several drug trafficking activities alongside Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (aka Barryshine).”
“The judge also ruled that “a warrant should be issued to search for Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulahi, currently at large for his involvement in drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Ganiu (aka Baryshine).”
“This is the arrest of Ajisegiri Sidika who was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos as he was exiting a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia with 400 grams of cocaine in his shoes,” he said.
Reacting to this development, retired NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, said he commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for their diligent two-year investigation.
According to him, this resulted in the conviction of three drug traffickers and eventually the arrest of the cartel leader.
Marwa said the feat proved that the long arm of the law would always arrest anyone involved in the criminal enterprise, no matter how long it took.
