After months of evading arrest abroad, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, was apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at his church in Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, 3rd August 2025. Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, is accused of orchestrating multiple cross-border drug shipments into Nigeria.
Olasele fled to Ghana after two large seizures of Ghana Loud cannabis linked to him 200kg on 4th June and 700kg on 6th July before his eventual arrest. In his statement, he admitted smuggling drugs through waterways from Ghana into Nigeria.
According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, the arrest was a major breakthrough in the Agency’s fight against drug trafficking. He also highlighted several other successful operations across the country where significant quantities of cannabis, tramadol, and other opioids were seized.
Notable recoveries include 3,093kg of skunk cannabis in Nasarawa, 359kg of skunk in Kano, and over 550,000 opioid pills in Gombe. Other arrests and seizures took place in Lagos, Edo, and Kano states, with suspects currently in custody.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the operatives for their dedication and urged continued vigilance in the ongoing war against drug abuse nationwide.
