King Sunny Ade’s former guitarist caught with cocaine at Lagos Airport

Fatoke Abiodun pictured displaying the substance

Fatoke Abiodun, an ex-guitarist, who played alongside King Sunny Ade for three decades, has been arrested with cocaine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday disclosed that Abiodun was arrested on 1 January while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The NDLEA Commander ar the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar said “We have made the first arrest in the new year. The suspect, a guitarist by name Fatoke Abiodun was found with 1.575kg of cocaine. The drug was discovered in the false bottom of his luggage during the outward screening of passengers to Italy,”

NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade described the involvement of Fatoke in drug trafficking as sad and disappointing.

“It is sad and disappointing for a grandfather to be involved in drug trafficking. This is a bad legacy to his children. This is a good start for the agency in the year and a sign that the days ahead will be tough for drug traffickers. The agency will continue to handle every case in accordance with the NDLEA Act,” Giade was quoted as saying.

The suspect will be charged to court for unlawful exportation and possession of narcotics, NDLEA said.

“Fatoke has owned up to the alleged crime blaming his involvement on financial hardship,” said the agency’s spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju.

NDLEA quoted Fatoke as saying: “I played for King Sunny Ade for 30 years before I was unceremoniously retired in 2007. I was unprepared and without severance money I saw the bitter side of life.”

He said his drug trafficking attempt was his first as he did it out of frustration.

“Because at my age I could not provide for my family. I am ashamed of myself,” he was quoted as saying.