ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele — also known as Abbas Ajakaiye for allegedly orchestrating large-scale cross-border drug trafficking.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, the clergyman was apprehended on Sunday, 3 August, at his church in Lekki, Lagos, moments after concluding his sermon. He had been on the run for months, twice evading capture and fleeing to Ghana following the interception of two cannabis consignments linked to him.
The agency said the first seizure, 200kg of ‘Ghana Loud’ — a high-potency strain of cannabis — was recovered at Okun Ajah beach on 4 June 2025. A second, much larger haul of 700kg was found in his delivery van on 6 July. In his statement, the suspect admitted transporting the illicit drugs via waterways from Ghana to Nigeria.
NDLEA operatives also reported major drug busts in multiple states. In Lagos, a 7 August raid at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, led to the arrest of Benjamin Udo Ukoh and the recovery of 15.63kg of Canadian Loud. In Nasarawa State, 3,093kg of skunk was seized from three suspects in New Karu on 9 August.
Other interceptions included 359kg of skunk, 9kg of Colorado, 20,000 tramadol pills, and 200 diazepam ampoules in Kano; over 550,000 opioid pills in Gombe; and thousands of opioid capsules and injections in Edo State.
NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised officers for their “balanced approach” combining enforcement with nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, and communities
