A 101-year-old great-grandmother has been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly selling cannabis after authorities found her with 90 grams of the drug in Ogun Stat...
A 101-year-old great-grandmother has been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly selling cannabis after authorities found her with 90 grams of the drug in Ogun State.
Esther Ogunmabo was apprehended on Saturday in Ogun State, in south-western Nigeria, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which announced the arrest.
NDLEA media director Femi Babafemi said Ogunmabo was found with what the agency described as retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis. The substance weighed 90 grams, according to the agency.
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Babafemi said the centenarian told authorities that she sold the cannabis to people in her local community. The disclosure formed part of the information provided by the agency following her arrest.
According to the NDLEA, Ogunmabo told investigators that she became involved in the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire. The agency did not provide further details about when the fire occurred or the extent of the damage to the shop.
The agency also alleged that one of Ogunmabo’s daughters, who lives in Lagos, arranged for cannabis to be supplied to her every four days. Ogunmabo allegedly received the substance and sold it to customers in smaller quantities within her community.
The daughter has also been arrested in connection with the case. The information provided by the NDLEA did not give further details about the allegations against her or the circumstances of her arrest.
Despite the arrest, Ogunmabo has been released on bail. Her release does not mean the case has been closed, as she could still face charges over the alleged criminal activity.
NDLEA chief executive Mohamed Marwa directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and receive counselling because of her advanced age. The decision followed the agency’s handling of the case involving the 101-year-old suspect.
The arrest came as the NDLEA also reported drug seizures along Nigeria’s maritime routes. In Akwa Ibom State, agency operatives acting on what was described as credible intelligence intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas last Friday.
The boat was heading towards Cameroon when it was intercepted, according to the NDLEA. Three people who were on board were arrested during the operation.
More than 42kg of narcotics were recovered from the suspects, the agency said. The seizure formed part of the NDLEA’s reported enforcement operations targeting the movement of illicit drugs along Nigeria’s maritime routes.
The agency also reported what it described as a milestone involving drugs shipped from Thailand. According to the NDLEA, the operation resulted in its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from the country.
The cases in Ogun State and Akwa Ibom were reported as part of the NDLEA’s wider drug enforcement activities in Nigeria. The arrest of Ogunmabo, however, has attracted particular attention because of her age and her description as a great-grandmother.
Ogunmabo’s case remains subject to possible further legal action. While she has been released on bail and directed to receive counselling, the NDLEA’s allegations mean she could still face criminal charges.
The details released by the agency also place her alleged cannabis sales within her community, with investigators saying she received supplies through her daughter and sold them in smaller quantities. The investigation has also resulted in the arrest of the daughter.
The case adds to a series of drug enforcement operations reported by the NDLEA, including the recovery of more than 42kg of narcotics from a boat travelling towards Cameroon and the agency’s reported first seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand.
