High Society Scandal: NDLEA Nabs Drug Kingpin and Nollywood Filmmaker in Shocking Bust

By Achimi Muktar

In a series of dramatic arrests, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a web of high-profile drug trafficking operations involving a Lagos socialite, Aishat Elediye, and a US-trained filmmaker, Eme Mbadiwe. The shocking revelations have exposed the underbelly of Nigeria’s elite circles, where glamour and crime intersect.

From Socialite to Drug Kingpin

Known in Lagos society as “Alhaja Elediye” and affectionately called “Iya Ruka” in the drug world, 61-year-old Aishat Elediye's double life has finally unraveled. On the surface, Elediye appeared to be a reputable businesswoman, importing fabrics and shoes from China while enjoying her position as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of Lagos socialites.

Beneath this façade, however, lay a thriving drug empire. Her arrest on January 1, 2025, followed the interception of a truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks loaded with 1,540 kilograms of imported hemp. The truck, driven by one of her staff, was stopped by NDLEA operatives, whose intelligence trail led them to Elediye’s opulent mansion on Adebayo Oyewole Street, Okota, Lagos.

“Her true identity has been a mystery for years while she operated as the head of a major drug cartel in Mushin,” NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed in a statement.

Nollywood Filmmaker’s Fall from Grace

Adding another layer to this high-profile crackdown, NDLEA operatives arrested Eme Mbadiwe, a US-trained filmmaker renowned for his work in Nollywood and Hollywood. Known also as a motivational speaker, Mbadiwe was apprehended in his hotel room in Lekki, Lagos, on December 27, 2024.

His arrest came shortly after the capture of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu, who was found at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja, with 33 parcels of Loud—a potent strain of cannabis weighing 17.3 kilograms.

The contraband, concealed in large wooden boxes, had arrived from the United States on a Delta Airlines flight on December 24, 2024. The drugs were traced back to Mbadiwe, who had dispatched Ugochukwu to collect the shipment from the Import Shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

A Blow to the Drug Cartel Network

These arrests mark a significant milestone in NDLEA’s ongoing war against drug trafficking in Nigeria. Babafemi commended the agency’s operatives for their diligence, noting that the crackdown disrupted operations of two major cartels with deep roots in Nigeria and international connections.

Public Outcry and Implications

The news has sent shockwaves through Nigerian society, with citizens calling for stricter measures to curb the influence of powerful individuals in drug trafficking.

“These arrests expose the depth of the problem,” said Dr. Olamide Adebayo, a criminologist based in Lagos. “It’s not just about the street-level dealers; we’re talking about high-profile individuals who use their influence to perpetuate these crimes.”

The Fight Continues

As NDLEA tightens its grip on drug cartels, the agency has promised to continue its pursuit of justice, targeting both the masterminds and their networks. The arrests of Elediye and Mbadiwe serve as a reminder that no one is untouchable in the fight against drug trafficking.

For now, the Nigerian public watches closely as these cases unfold, hoping they signal the beginning of the end for a troubling era of high-profile drug crimes in the country.