ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The founder and General Overseer of Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly, Lagos, High Priest Nnodu Azuka Kendrick, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over alleged drug trafficking.
Arrested along with him are Udezuka Udoka, a student of Emmanuel College of Theology Samanta, Ibadan, and their freight agent, Oyoyo Mary Obasi.
The three were arrested over an attempt to export methamphetamine and skunk consignments concealed in kegs of palm oil through the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.
There arrest was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA, Director Media and Advocacy on Sunday.
According to the statement, High Priest Nnodu was arrested on Saturday 11 February 2023 at his church located at No 1, Sabbath Close, ljesha area of Lagos, following the arrest of the Udoka and Obasi.
The statement partly reads: “High Priest Nnodu was arrested on Saturday 11th February 2023 at his Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly church located at No 1, Sabbath Close, ljesha area of Lagos following the arrest of two suspects: Oyoyo Mary Obasi and the theology student, Udezuka Udoka on Thursday 9th February at the Lagos airport in connection with the seizure of 283 parcels of skunk weighing 14.90 kilograms and 204 grams of methamphetamine concealed in four 25-litre kegs of palm oil for export to Dubai.
“In her statement Mary indicted the General Overseer of her new-found church, Nnodu and his son, Chisom Obi, who is now at large as the persons that gave her the consignments for export after being compelled to take an oath of secrecy as well as a sacrifice of chicken in the church while High Priest Nnodu prayed for her for the success of the transaction.
“Spilling the beans on how she was recruited by her church’s GO, Mary said the clergyman and his son used threats to compel her to take the job after they knew she had known their secrets, adding that High Priest Nnodu was always referring to the illicit drugs as Ice and Bible, (Street names for Methamphetamine and Cannabis) in their telephone text message chats.
“The theology student, Udezuka was introduced to Mary to assist her because she was new in the illicit business. Udezuka said he was paid N2million for his role and had to do it because he needed the money for his education.”
Earlier, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday took to his Facebook page to announce and share pictures and video of the illegal drugs.
He wrote: “Church General Overseer busted! You go to seek refuge in the house of God and there the shepherd recruits you into drug trafficking.
“What type of playing is this? Anyway, the details of the arrest of Daddy GO & others by #ndlea_nigeria in Lagos yesterday over a busted attempt to export meth and skunk to Dubai will come in our statement at noon.”