NDELA arrests Chris Mba, 3 others

ANTHONY OMOH

Nigerian musician, Christopher Mba has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) for possession of substances suspected to be cocaine and cannabis. Mba who hails from Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State was arrested with three others, while attempting to travel with a Guinean international passport under the name of Barry Mamaduo. He was caught during screening of passengers on China Southern flight to China.

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The suspect was arrested with Osagbemore Igbinosun Precious, 29, Charity Erifeta, 28 and Inegbejie Messiah, 28. Precious and Messiah ingested substances that tested positive for cocaine while Barry and Charity were found in possession of dried weeds that proved positive for cannabis.

Confirming the incident, NDLEA Commander at the airport Mr. Victor Cole-showers said that Mba Christopher was caught with 61.5 kilogrammes of cannabis hidden in two big luggage.

During interrogation Mba revealed, "I am a musician. I was travelling to China on a business trip. The boy that gave me the bags said that I should help him send them to his brother who lives in China. He said the bags contain foodstuff. When he opened it, I saw foodstuff. I did not know that the parcels are drugs. I agreed to carry them because the brother promised to accommodate me in China.

"Even the 150 dollars excess luggage fee was paid by me though they said they will refund the money. I blame myself so much".

The suspect who released his first music album titled ‘The Reason’ in 2005 is now cooling his heels at the NDLEA headquarters. He lives at No. 14 Chika Ben Street Olodi Apapa Lagos.

Igbinosun Precious the female suspect ingested 80 wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine and inserted one big wrap in her private part weighing 100 grammes. She was to board an Alitalia Flight when she tested positive for drug ingestion.

She blamed herself for trafficking in illicit drugs. The Edo State lady that works as an auxiliary nurse in Italy said that "I am not hungry. I just don’t know why I have to do it".

She would have been paid 5,000 Euros.

Charity Erifeta who hails from Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State was arrested on October 10, 2008 with 152 grammes of cannabis on her way to Milan where she lives.

The drug was found inside the pockets of her jeans trousers during search. She claimed to be an addict. "It was bad friends that made me a smoker. The cannabis was for my private use" Charity stated.

Inegbejie Messiah was caught on September 30, 2008 during screening of passengers on Alitalia flight to Rome. He lives in Bologna Italy. He ingested 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.562 kilogrammes.

He would have been paid 4,000 Euros by his sponsors. Messiah said he desperately needed money to solve family problems. According to him, "I am an applicant and my wife will soon put to birth, but I now realised that it would have been better for me to be a free applicant than to be in detention".