As Ivorian Excretes 82 Cocaine Wraps at Kano Airport.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered creative and high-stakes drug smuggling attempts across Nigeria, including a woman using a fake baby bump made from a calabash to hide thousands of tramadol capsules and an Ivorian national who ingested cocaine pellets for export to Europe.

In one bizarre case at the Seme land border in Lagos State on February 16, operatives intercepted 35-year-old Kano businesswoman Rabi Muhammad attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. Suspicion arose from her prominently protruding abdomen.

A full body search revealed the “pregnancy” was fabricated — she had tied a pink-coloured calabash around her stomach to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol destined for sale abroad.

On the same day at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), NDLEA officers detained 41-year-old Ivorian Michael Gohouri (alias Anunwa Onyinye Michael) during outbound clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed ingestion of narcotics. Under medical observation, he excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms. The suspect, who arrived in Lagos from Milan in mid-January and shuttled between cities before loading the drugs in a Kano hotel, reportedly stood to earn €5,000 upon delivery. He holds an Italian resident permit and a Nigerian NIN under his alias.

In a significant hit against organized trafficking, NDLEA arrested Kolapo Oladapo Raji, 57, Chairman and CEO of real estate firm Trans Fortress Global Resources. Placed on the agency’s watchlist in 2025, Raji was nabbed at his Ikate, Lekki residence in Lagos on February 12 following surveillance after a UK trip. Searches recovered 89.20 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis in four large bags and a 2024 Toyota Hilux. Raji admitted entering the trade via financing for an overseas contact, with profits prompting him to build his own network.

Additional seizures and arrests occurred nationwide:

• Lagos: 56kg skunk from Ugwuja Kingsley in Agbara (February 19) and 76kg from Ekwe Arinze in Oshodi (February 17).
• Rivers State (Onne Port): 170,900 bottles of codeine syrup in a container, uncovered via joint intelligence-led inspection.
• Kogi State: 7,300 tramadol 225mg pills hidden in sound systems on a Lagos-Kano bus (February 15), leading to arrests of Ezenma Kingsley (26) and Ezeja Anthony (29) in Abuja (February 17).
• Ondo State: 195kg and 198kg skunk from suspects in forest raids (February 19).
• Bauchi State: 936kg skunk from Yahaya Adamu Gimba (48) in Azare, plus 85.8kg from him and three accomplices (February 17).
• Delta State: 37kg skunk in Ughelli (February 17).
• Edo State: Destruction of over 1,266kg skunk on three farms in Owan West, with 23kg processed cannabis recovered; arrests including 68-year-old grandmother Evelyn Ogenewu and Friday Iruoje (43) (February 17).

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised operatives from MAKIA, Seme, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Port Harcourt Ports, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi commands for their successes. He emphasized the agency’s dual focus on supply reduction through enforcement and demand reduction via War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization in schools and communities nationwide.

The update was released by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, to February 27, 2026.

The adjournment was announced on Friday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik during proceedings in the case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), also known as the State Security Service.

The case, which involves allegations including terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms, could not proceed as scheduled due to a public holiday declared by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The holiday was proclaimed ahead of the scheduled area council elections in the FCT set for the following day.

Following the declaration, the court ordered that the defendants remain remanded in the custody of the DSS pending the next hearing date.

Malami and his son had earlier pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge when they were arraigned before the same judge. The matter had previously been adjourned to February 20 for consideration of bail applications and the potential commencement of trial.

This development marks another delay in the high-profile legal proceedings against the former chief law officer of Nigeria and his son. The case continues to draw significant public attention amid broader anti-corruption and security-related probes in the country.

The court is expected to reconvene on February 27 for further proceedings.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, has been arrested following a shooting incident at his residence in the upscale Hyde Park suburb.

According to reports from South African media outlets including eNCA and IOL, as well as Gauteng police investigations, an employee—described variably as a security guard or gardener—was shot during an apparent dispute at the property.

The victim is in critical condition and receiving medical treatment.Police responded to the scene, where Mugabe was reportedly taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

Some unconfirmed social media accounts and early reports mentioned police negotiators attending amid claims the suspect had barricaded himself, but he was subsequently arrested.

This marks the latest in a series of legal troubles for Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, who has previously faced charges related to assault in Zimbabwe, including incidents involving security personnel and law enforcement.

The investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) is ongoing, with more details expected as the case develops. Authorities have not yet released an official statement on charges or motives.

The incident has drawn significant attention online and in regional media, given the family’s prominent political legacy.