Police launch manhunt for Nigerian drug lord

Nigerian drug lord Anthony Chinedu is suspected to have sneaked back into the country on Tuesday using a fake name.

Mr Chinedu is said to have returned through Namanga on the Kenya/Tanzania border using the name of Anaeke Chimenze, another drug lord who was expelled with him last month.

This prompted police to launch a manhunt for him in Nairobi where he reportedly owns houses and businesses acquired with contraband money and enjoys protection from rogue security officers.

On Thursday, a senior CID officer, who could not be named for protocol reasons, told the Saturday Nation that the Nigerian drug kingpin had returned into the country using forged identity.

However, Internal security principal secretary Mutea Iringo dismissed this, saying, Mr Chimenze was a different drug lord kicked out alongside Mr Chinedu and eight others last month.

“There is a serious manhunt for the Nigerian, who is still at large, but we will do everything to ensure that nobody jeopardises the war on drugs,” Mr Iringo said.

This emerged as an immigration officer was charged with assisting Mr Chimenze to enter the country illegally.

The court denied Mr Edward Kabiu Njau bail and ordered him to stay in police custody pending completion of investigation.

“Although the offence is bail-able, in light of inconclusive investigations, I grant the police three days to conclude and order the accused remanded at the Kileleshwa Police Station till Monday,” ruled Milimani senior principal magistrate Ellena Nderitu.

Mr Njau faced one count of allowing a “prohibited immigrant entry into Kenya”. He asked the court to release him on grounds that he was asthmatic and needed medication.

Prosecutor Brigit Kanyahi said the suspect had not tabled any documents to prove his claims and that he could interfere with investigations, if released.

The court heard he unlawfully allowed Mr Chimenze, a Nigerian holding passport number 02743350 into the country through the Namanga border point within Kajiado County. The offence was allegedly committed on July 9 between 3.45pm and 4.30pm.

Security agents were reportedly still tracking the suspect  by press time. Mr Njau was arrested at his workstation in Kajiado and driven to court. He has since been interdicted for gross misconduct.

Police sources said the fugitive is suspected to be hiding in Nairobi where he has an elaborate network of accomplices he had recruited into the drug business.

An officer in the investigations said Chimenze was a security threat to officers who had arrested him.

“We fear he may harm the officers who participated in his deportation or other people,” said the officer who could not be named for security reasons.

Head of CID in Nairobi Nicholas Kamwende said they were hunting for the suspect. “We have laws and we must apply them. He will be caught soon,” he said.

In a meeting with editors at State House Nairobi, President Kenyatta reiterated his resolve to fight drug lords, saying, nobody should intimidate officers dispensing their duties.

“We will not allow drug dealers back to the country; we will not. And if you are deported, you aren’t supposed to come back to Kenya. We will not allow people to come and spoil the future of our children,” Mr Kenyatta said.

The Nigerian drug lords were deported on June 3, but the move sparked diplomatic furore between Kenya and Nigeria when the chartered plane that flew them home was detained in Lagos amid claims that Nairobi had not followed protocol.The crew and seven government officials were also detained.

They were released after 12 days on the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan.

In the past one month, more than 24 foreigners have been deported for alleged involvement in international crimes.

Seven of them are believed to be key members of drug syndicates spanning the globe with operating bases in Kenya.

The move to kick out foreigners dealing in contraband has also targeted Europeans. For instance, Russian Kurtasov Andrey, 42, was deported on June 6 by then acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Githu Muigai.

Other suspected criminals are Johnson Obina, Emmanuel Peter, Paul Maison, John Peter Osinomuno, Ismail Adengule, Michael Olabaji, Paul Owasene, Adu Kolawale, Kenneth Chikenzi, Johnson Obina, Adebiyi Oluwatosini, Peter Sessie and Obira Onzama.

Also deported were Diawara Mamady and Komani Camara (Guinea Bissau); Solomon Haulu (Ethiopia), Abubakar Toure (Ivory Coast) and Mohammed Dokure (Burundi).