Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a property in Lekki and other items linked to illicit drug operations to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The ruling followed an application brought before the court by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Buhari Abdulahi, who urged the court to grant the order after the agency had complied with all legal requirements.
According to court documents, the forfeited property, a four-bedroom apartment with two sitting rooms and a boys’ quarters was allegedly owned by one Femi Adebanjo, identified as the leader of a drug trafficking syndicate currently residing in Canada.
Investigations revealed that the premises served as a base for the storage and distribution of narcotics, including the importation of high-grade cannabis, popularly known as “Canadian Loud,” from Canada into Nigeria.
During proceedings, Abdulahi informed the court that, following an interim forfeiture order made on March 20, 2024, the NDLEA had published details of the property in Daily Sun newspaper of May 20, 2024, as directed by the court, inviting interested parties to come forward.
He added that a renewed publication was also made in the Vanguard newspaper of August 1, 2025, after an extension order granted on July 1, 2025. Despite these notices, no one appeared to claim ownership or contest the forfeiture.
Having satisfied itself that due process had been followed, the court ordered the permanent forfeiture of the property located at Block 11, House 2, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, to the Federal Government.
An affidavit supporting the application, deposed to by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasir Garba Bungudu, of the NDLEA’s Asset and Financial Investigation Unit, Lagos Command, detailed how the property became a hub for the illicit trade.
According to Bungudu, the agency began tracking the syndicate in 2023 after receiving credible intelligence on its operations. Surveillance operations identified the Lekki property as the group’s main operational base, where narcotics were received, repackaged, and distributed across Nigeria.
The affidavit also revealed that Femi Adebanjo financed and managed the syndicate’s operations from Canada, using his company, Femaffix Global Services Limited, to launder proceeds from the illegal trade.
He was said to have purchased the Lekki property to accommodate his associates, including Ekwejunor Oritsematosan, who is currently facing trial in Charge No. FHC/L/501C/2023 — FRN v. Ekwejunor Oritsematosan & Anor — for drug-related offences.
The NDLEA stated that during a raid on the premises on February 5, 2023, its operatives seized 1.088 kilograms of “Canadian Loud” and arrested five members of the cartel — Tijani Oladapo Hakeem, Eric Makuo, Adaobi Fortune, Ahmed Jubril, and Ekwejunor Oritsematosan.
Four of the suspects: Hakeem, Makuo, Fortune, and Jubril — later pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in Charge No. FHC/L/122C/2023 (FRN v. Tijani Oladapo Hakeem & 3 Ors) and were convicted and sentenced accordingly. Oritsematosan’s trial, however, is still ongoing.
The agency further informed the court that the principal suspect, Adebanjo, fled to Canada before the raid and has since refused to appear for questioning.
The property was subsequently sealed off and marked for investigation. Despite repeated public notices, no individual has come forward to claim the property or provide any information regarding its ownership.
Based on the uncontested evidence presented, Justice Owoeye granted the NDLEA’s application, ruling that the property and all items therein, being instruments of crime, are forfeited to the Federal Government pursuant to the provisions of the NDLEA Act.
