The Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria has approved the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) request to remand Sulaimon Jimoh, also known as ‘Olowo Idi Ogede’ and ‘Temo’, for 14 days.
Justic Akintayo Aluko issued the order following a compelling application by Lambert Nor, NDLEA’s deputy commander in charge of prosecution and legal services.
Additionally, the court mandated the interim attachment of Jimoh’s grey Mercedes Benz SUV GLE to the Federal Government of Nigeria, citing it as proceeds from illicit drug trafficking in Cannabis Sativa.
“The suspect, Sulaimon Jimoh alias ‘Olowoidiogede’ a.k.a. ‘Temo’ is a wanted high-profile drug baron who is in control of the cannabis drug trade in the whole of the West Africa Region,” Nor stated.
The NDLEA emphasized the importance of holding Jimoh for extensive investigation and to ensure that the seized items are legally maintained. The agency highlighted Jimoh’s history of evading arrest despite multiple seizures of his drug shipments over the years.
“There is a need to pursue other diverse aspects of the case by way of extensive investigation. It is necessary to have legal custody of the suspect and the items seized from him in order not to violate his rights,” Nor argued, referencing sections of the Nigerian Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and NDLEA laws.
Justice Aluko, after reviewing the submissions and legal references, granted the NDLEA’s application and scheduled the next hearing for August 9, 2024, for a report on further investigations.
The 57-year-old Jimoh was apprehended on Monday by NDLEA operatives in Lagos’s Mushin area after an initial resistance involving hoodlums. The NDLEA reinforced its team with about 50 operatives to capture him as he tried to flee in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350.
“His attempt to escape by mobilizing hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives, however, failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered to the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents who also succeeded in recovering the Mercedes Benz SUV the suspect was found in,” the NDLEA reported.
