After months on the run abroad to evade arrest, the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele (alias Abbas Ajakaiye), has been apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly masterminding multiple shipments of illicit drugs into Nigeria.
The cleric was arrested at his church located in Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, August 3, 2025. NDLEA officers, who had laid in wait since morning, swooped in immediately after he concluded the evening worship service and stepped out of the premises.
His arrest followed months of evasion. He had twice escaped NDLEA operatives and fled to Ghana in June after the interception of two large consignments of “Ghana Loud” — a potent strain of cannabis — linked to him. The first seizure, weighing 200kg, was made at Okun Ajah Beach on June 4, 2025, while another 700kg consignment was recovered from his delivery van on July 6, 2025.
In his confession, Prophet Adefolusho admitted ferrying the illicit consignments through waterways from Ghana into Nigeria. He said he fled to the West African country to hide after previously eluding arrest.
In a separate Lagos operation on Thursday, August 7, NDLEA operatives raided an apartment at Kishi House, 11 Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Udo Ukoh and recovering 32 pouches of “Canadian Loud” cannabis weighing 15.63kg.
Nationwide Drug Interdictions
- Nasarawa State: On Saturday, August 9, NDLEA officers recovered 3,093kg of “skunk” cannabis from Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) in the New Karu area.
- Kano State: On Friday, August 8, Nura Yahaya (29) was caught with 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359kg in Geza, Kumbotso LGA. Earlier, on Wednesday, August 6, Umar Adamu Umar (27) was arrested with 9kg of “Colorado” synthetic cannabis along Zaria–Kano Road. In another interception on Friday, August 8, NDLEA recovered 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection from Usman Musa (30) at Gadar Tamburawa along Zaria–Kano Road.
- Gombe State: On Friday, August 8, a raid on an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami, Gombe town, led to the seizure of 550,266 opioid pills, mainly tramadol, and the arrest of Usama Isah. The next day, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was arrested along Potiskum Road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
- Edo State: On Wednesday, August 6, NDLEA operatives at Ewu Junction intercepted a white Toyota Hiace bus (YAB 5522 K) coming from Onitsha, Anambra, and heading to Isanlu, Kogi. A search uncovered 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets of the same drug, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection. The driver, Taiye Jethro, was arrested.
Ongoing WADA Sensitization
Across the country, NDLEA commands and formations sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization drives in schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities. Activities included lectures at Mind City College, Saki, Oyo State; Gwagwarwa Primary School, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; and the Nigerian Army 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru, Yobe. Engagements were also held with the Engine Grinders Association, Gboko, Benue State; the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ado Ekiti; and the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Commending the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo commands for their arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged officers nationwide to sustain the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
