General Overseer Nabbed in Drug Trafficking Case

August 11, 2025 OLAOLUWA AYOMIDE

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Olasele, founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, over alleged involvement in a high-scale drug trafficking network.

Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, had been on the run for months before his capture on Sunday, August 3, 2025. He was taken into custody at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos, moments after concluding a Sunday service. NDLEA operatives had reportedly kept the premises under discreet surveillance throughout the day.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the clergyman fled to Ghana in June after two major cannabis seizures were traced to him. The first haul, weighing 200kg, was recovered at Okun Ajah beach on June 4. A month later, another 700kg was found in a delivery van linked to him.

Babafemi revealed that Olasele admitted smuggling the drugs through waterways from Ghana into Nigeria. He allegedly evaded arrest twice before relocating across the border in a bid to avoid capture.

The arrest is part of a wider NDLEA crackdown on drug trafficking across multiple states. Recent operations in Lagos, Nasarawa, Kano, Gombe, and Edo have yielded significant seizures of cannabis, opioids, and synthetic strains. Several suspects are now in custody as investigations continue.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers for their coordinated efforts. He urged operatives nationwide to maintain vigilance while ensuring a balanced approach to enforcement.

The case of Prophet Olasele has stirred public debate, drawing attention to the growing intersection between religious influence and organised crime. Authorities say the investigation remains active, with more arrests likely in the coming weeks.