Federal High Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Lekki Duplex Linked to Drug Trafficking
The Federal High Court, Lagos Division, presided over by Justice Alexander Owoeye, has granted a final forfeiture order in respect of a four‑bedroom duplex with two sitting rooms and boys’ quarters located at Block 11, House 2, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Lekki Phase 1. The property was adjudged to have been used as an instrumentality of drug trafficking and is now permanently vested in the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The application was brought by Mr. Buhari Abdulahi, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), pursuant to the NDLEA Act, which empowers the court to confiscate assets used in the commission of drug‑related offences. Counsel submitted that the property belonged to a suspected drug baron, Adebanjo, currently resident in Canada, and served as the operational base for trafficking Canadian Loud (a high‑grade strain of cannabis sativa) into Nigeria.
An interim forfeiture order had earlier been granted on 20 March 2024, with publications made in the Daily Sun (20 May 2024) and Vanguard (1 August 2025) inviting objections. No claims were filed within the statutory period.
According to an affidavit deposed to by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasir Garba Bungudu, NDLEA intelligence in 2023 traced a trafficking syndicate’s base to the Lekki property.
Following surveillance, NDLEA operatives raided the premises on 5 February 2023, recovering 1.088kg of Canadian Loud and arresting five suspects.
Four suspects were subsequently convicted in Charge No. FHC/L/122C/2023 (FRN v. Tijani Oladapo Hakeem & 3 Ors) after pleading guilty.
A fifth suspect, Ekwejunor Oritsematosan, remains on trial with Femaffix Global Services Ltd in Charge No. FHC/L/501C/2023.
Investigations further revealed that Adebanjo purchased and maintained the property with proceeds of drug trafficking, using it as a warehouse, coordination hub, and residence for associates.
Justice Owoeye held that:
– The NDLEA’s affidavit evidence was unchallenged.
– The property and its contents were instruments used in committing drug offences.
– Due process was followed, as required by law, including publication of the interim order.
Accordingly, the court ordered the final forfeiture of the property and all items therein to the Federal Government.
