Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a notorious drug baron, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu (a.k.a Barryshine), two years after he came under the agency’s radar.
According to a statement provided by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Suleiman, the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, was placed on the agency’s watchlist due to his alleged involvement in four failed attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.
Suleiman’s name first surfaced on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger on a Qatar Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was arrested at MMIA with 400 grams of cocaine hidden inside women’s footwear.
Investigations revealed that Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, Suleiman’s brother, hired the arrested drug courier. Further inquiries showed that Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu financed the flight tickets and other travel expenses for the suspect.
Just days after Sidika’s arrest, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was arrested on November 24, 2022, with the same amount of cocaine—400 grams—concealed in men’s footwear, also en route to Saudi Arabia.
Oyenuga confessed that he was hired by Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (a.k.a Teacher), who was later arrested and convicted.
Oyenuga further alleged that Wasiu Gbolahan connected him to Suleiman through an individual named Igbono, later identified through investigations as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (a.k.a Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje, and Ejeoto).
As investigations into these cases continued and the search for Suleiman intensified, two more drug mules were arrested at MMIA on June 21, 2024, while attempting to board a flight to Doha, Qatar.
One of the suspects, later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel (a.k.a Oladapo Olanrewaju), expelled 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg, which he had ingested. The second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, excreted 60 wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 662 grams.
Further investigations revealed that both Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji had been recruited by the same Igbono, who worked for Suleiman and was implicated in the 2022 arrests of Sidika and Oyenuga.
Financial investigations conducted by the NDLEA also linked Suleiman to the arrested couriers and two of his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both of whom are currently at large.
As a result, the Agency froze the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel, after which Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on August 26, 2024, for further investigation.
In his statement, Suleiman claimed he is involved in property development and hotel management, residing in both Lagos and Paris, France.
He also mentioned running a clothing business with his wife at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, and stated that his frequent visits to Saudi Arabia were for the purpose of performing the lesser hajj.
Suleiman added that he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land). Some of the properties traced to him include two houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Meta, and his Barryshine Hotel at 95 Freeman Street, Yaba, Lagos.
Meanwhile, Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an NDLEA application to extend Suleiman’s detention by 30 days and declared his two associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large, wanted.
Ruling on the motion ex-parte in suit number: FHC/L/MISC/555/24, Justice Dipeolu stated:
“An order is hereby made declaring one Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, a.k.a. ‘Igbono,’ ‘Murphy,’ ‘Femi Iwaya,’ ‘Ade Iwaya,’ ‘Baba Eje,’ and ‘Ejeoto,’ wanted, who is presently at large for his involvement in multiple drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a. Barryshine).”
The judge also ruled: “An order is hereby made declaring one Olarenwaju Ramon Abdullahi wanted, who is presently at large for his involvement in the drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a. Barryshine) in connection with the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, who was apprehended at MMIA, Ikeja-Lagos, during outward clearance for a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia, with 400 grams of cocaine concealed in footwear.”
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for their thorough two-year investigation, which led to the conviction of three traffickers and the eventual arrest of the kingpin behind the cartel.
He stated that this demonstrates the long arm of the law will always reach those involved in criminal activities, no matter how long it takes.
