The General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Rev. Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ekwem has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos while on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya.
The 38-year-old was arrested with 54 sticks of drugs wrapped around his body on March 7, 2022.
The preacher has his church headquarters in Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu road, Awka, Awka North LGA, Anambra state and two other branches in Lagos and Abuja.
Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media & Advocacy of the NDLEA while disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, March 13, said that Ekwem was arrested on Monday 7th March, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi via Addis Ababa.
Babafemi said that when tested, the 54 sticks proved positive for cannabis. The clergyman confessed during the preliminary interview that he packed that quantity of illicit substance on his body to use during his three weeks crusade in Kenya.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues across the country to stay focused and intensify efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs and substances.
