A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of four properties linked to an alleged drug baron, Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, popularly known as “Barryshine” and “Ejeoto.”
The ruling was delivered by the court presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki.
The four buildings, located at 55, 55a, 63, and 72 on Queen Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos, are now under the interim control of the federal government.
The forfeiture order was granted following an ex parte motion filed and argued by Abu Ibrahim, a Commander of Narcotics with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to Ibrahim, the application was brought under several sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
The NDLEA's case rests on the suspicion that the properties were acquired through illegal drug dealing and trafficking activities.
“The property now sought to be attached is reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activities, to wit: drug dealing/trafficking,” Ibrahim stated in court.
A key point highlighted by the NDLEA was the mysterious ownership of the properties.
In addressing the court, Ibrahim revealed that investigations at the Lagos State Lands Bureau failed to reveal the registered owners, prompting the agency to seek the court's intervention.
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| alleged drug baron, Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, popularly known as “Barryshine” and “Ejeoto.” |
Ibrahim explained that the NDLEA is legally required to seek such orders to preserve the assets and bring them to the attention of any potential owners or interested third parties through public advertisement.
Justice Kakaki, after reviewing the NDLEA's submission, found the application to have merit and granted the orders as prayed. The interim forfeiture will last for 60 days, starting from September 24, 2025.
The judge further directed the NDLEA to widely publicise the forfeiture in a national newspaper.
This will give anyone with an interest in the properties the opportunity to appear before the court and provide a reason why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, the alleged drug baron, is currently facing separate drug trafficking charges before Justices Akintayo Aluko and Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a related development, Justice Kakaki also granted the NDLEA's request to further detain a suspected drug trafficker, Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, for an additional 14 days.
Oladimeji was arrested on August 26, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
He was allegedly attempting to export 17.90 kilograms of cocaine, cleverly concealed within textile materials.
Ibrahim informed the court that the remand was necessary to allow the NDLEA to complete a complex investigation, which is being conducted in collaboration with foreign anti-narcotic agencies.
The motion, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit and documentary evidence, sought the extended remand to ensure all investigative leads are thoroughly pursued.
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