Daily Independent, Lagos — Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested the Resident Pastor of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim at Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos, Prophet Micheal Raji, over an alleged attempt to export of 174 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs worth N609 million to South Africa.
The NDLEA said on Wednesday May 20, 2015 that three international passports bearing different names were also recovered from him, even as a jeep was impounded during the operation.
According to the agency, a preliminary investigation allegedly indicated that the suspect was a member of a wanted drug syndicate operating in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
The agency claimed that 60-year-old pastor had told investigators that he was lured to the crime by the devil.
It quoted the pastor as saying, “I received the drugs from my friend and I kept them in the church since October 2014. This is a great temptation for me and I pray to God to overcome it.”
NDLEA said, “Preliminary investigation has indicated that the 60-year-old suspect, Michael Raji, is a top member of a drug syndicate operating in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
“The pastor had three international passports bearing his photographs. One of the passports bears the name Michael Raji, while the other two bear the name Kadigun Fatah Ola.
“It was equally discovered that the church premises where he ministers also serves as a warehouse for narcotics.”
Speaking on his arrest, the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar, said: “I can tell you that this suspect is a smooth operator, but we have uncovered his bag of tricks.
“The drugs were brought to the airport for export to South Africa where it was detected. Investigation eventually traced the movement of the drugs to his church premises where he was arrested.”
