Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lagos pastor and his wife over alleged drug trafficking.
The couple were caught with 11 kilograms of skunk reportedly hidden in their vehicle during an operation at a checkpoint in Badagry, Lagos State.
The suspects are Pastor Afolabi Hodonu, 45, and his wife, Mrs Success Hodonu, 35.
They were arrested on Thursday, April 2 at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border axis.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the drugs were discovered during a search of their SUV.
“The pastor in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Sakpo area of the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos State, Pastor Afolabi Hodonu, 45, and his wife, Mrs Success Hodonu, 35, were arrested on Thursday, April 2, by NDLEA operatives at the Gbaji checkpoint. A search of their Honda Pilot SUV led to the recovery of blocks of skunk weighing 11kg concealed in hidden parts of the vehicle,” he said.
Babafemi said the arrest was linked to an earlier interception at the same checkpoint on March 30, where another suspect was caught with cannabis.
ALSO READ: Army rescues 31 abducted worshippers in Kaduna attack
“The arrest of the couple followed the apprehension of a fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, 35, at the same checkpoint on Monday, March 30, while conveying 24.5kg of skunk from the Seme border to Lagos.”
He added that the operation is part of ongoing nationwide enforcement efforts.
“The development is part of a series of operations conducted by the anti-narcotics agency across the country within the past week,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has denied any official link with the suspects.
The church said its records do not recognise them as members of its mainstream structure under Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa.
“Our administrative records confirm that the said shepherd, Afolabi Hodonu, and his wife, Success Hodonu, do not belong to the Ketu mainstream of the Celestial Church of Christ under the leadership of His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa,” Kayode Ajala said.
The church also said it would investigate the matter.
“Having said that, and given the fact that the name of the Celestial Church of Christ has been dragged into this despicable act, we shall dispatch our Task Force Corps to Seme, Badagry, for a fact-finding mission on the unfolding situation,” he added.