Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a five-storey building and various other assets linked to illicit drug trafficking, following a successful application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The forfeited real estate is located at No. 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, Off Elsie Femi Pearse Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, which investigators described as a base of operations for a drug trafficking organization specializing in the distribution of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa.
The final forfeiture also includes Five vehicles: Blue Toyota Sienna (KJA 79 HJ), White Volkswagen Delivery Van (AAA 525 JE), Ash KIA Ceranto (BOG 860 6Q), Black Land Cruiser Prado (AKD 472 DZ), Red Grand Caravan Dodge (APP 847 YF).
Other items are: 13 Refrigerators, 70 Air Conditioners, 84 Televisions.
The NDLEA, through its counsel Barrister Buhari Abdulahi, brought the application marked FHC/L/MISC/447/25, under relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the NDLEA Act, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
Key Findings from NDLEA Investigation
According to a 29-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasir Garba Bungudu, the agency acted on credible intelligence in April 2025 about the activities of a drug syndicate led by a notorious figure identified as Noble Phillip, now at large.
The property, designed as a hotel with 80 rooms nearing completion, was allegedly used for drug storage and coordination. A raid conducted on April 25, 2025, led to the seizure of 586 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing 415.5 kilograms, valued at approximately ₦1 billion.
NDLEA operatives also recovered various documents from the premises, including the land title and international passport of Noble Phillip, confirming his ownership of the building.
One of the organization’s operatives, Ayitu Eze, who disguised as a receptionist at The Caesar Hotel and The Hook Lounge (both operating within the same property), was arrested and charged in FRN v. Ayitu Eze (FHC/L/541c/2025). He pleaded guilty and was convicted on July 2, 2025, receiving a five-year sentence, a ₦1 million fine, and six months of community service.
Justice Kala, having reviewed all exhibits and submissions, held that the NDLEA had sufficiently established the link between the property and drug-related crimes. He thereby ordered that all listed assets be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
