TheNewsGuru

Tag: NDLEA

  • People stopped associating with Baba Suwe after NDLEA saga –Son

    People stopped associating with Baba Suwe after NDLEA saga –Son

    Adesola Omidina, a son to late comic actor, Baba Suwe, has said friends stopped associating with his father after the NDLEA saga.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the NDLEA detained Baba Suwe on October 12, 2011, at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on his way to Paris, France, for allegedly swallowing hard drugs. But after three weeks of detention, no drugs were found in him.

    A Lagos high court then ordered the NDLEA to pay Baba Suwe the sum of N25m for unlawfully detaining him and also tender an apology to him.

    However Adesola said “The case is not about what he told me. Rather, I was involved in the case from the beginning to the end. I was the one that hired the late Bamidele Aturu to handle my father’s case.

    “I wouldn’t want to go deep into this issue; it is a story for the future. All the accusations that were levelled against my father were false. My father couldn’t even kill a rat, not to talk of what he was accused of. That was too expensive”, he told Punch.

    Speaking further, Baba Suwe’s son stated that the late actor lost some friends and also got denied opportunities of earning money as a brand ambassador to corporate organizations.

    “There were some people who loved to associate themselves with my father but after that incident, they withdrew and were also trying to be careful to protect their image.

    “My father was not able to enjoy certain privileges which could have come from the government, both state and federal; and also brands. As a young guy, all my income was spent on my father till he died just to make sure he was fine. We thank God for everything.”

     

  • NDLEA refutes BBNaija’s Khloe assault claim

    NDLEA refutes BBNaija’s Khloe assault claim

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has stated that its officer identified as L.S. Shonibare did not assault Big Brother Naija star Abiri Khloe.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the reality TV star had taken to Instagram to accuse the officer of assault at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, saying her nails were broken in the process.

    Khloe called on NDLEA to investigate the incident and called on officials to stop “harassing citizens because of their uniforms”.

    In a new development, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi in a press statement on Sunday said the claims were false.

    Mr Babafemi said that the agency’s preliminary findings showed that none of its officers assaulted the Air Peace airline passenger at the departure gate of the airport in the early hours of December 5.

    He said: “At about 12:20am on Sunday Dec. 5, during an outward clearance of passengers going to South Africa by Air peace, a female passenger, Ms. Abiri Khloe was asked to submit her luggage for a search, which is a regular procedure.

    “In the course of searching her luggage, which contains about 8 handbags, Khloe who obviously came late for the flight as shown on CCTV footage became agitated and hurled a number of unprintable insults at the female officer searching her luggage.

    “This attitude is naturally a red flag that would raise suspicion and equally taken as an attempt to distract the officer.”

    Babafemi said that Khloe went further to point fingers in the face of the officer and at the same time pulled out a phone to record the officer in the course of doing her work.

    “At that point, the officer seized the phone from her to stop the distraction but that didn’t stop the passenger who brought out another phone to record their encounter,” he said.

    The NDLEA spokesperson said that the agency would take further steps to investigate any other evidence made available in the course of the ongoing process and revert back to the public.

     

  • NDLEA destroys drugs worth N50b in Abuja

    NDLEA destroys drugs worth N50b in Abuja

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday destroyed drugs worth over N50 billion weighing 20,000 kilograms in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    The Chiarman, NDLEA, (rtd.) Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, speaking during the burning of the illicit drugs publicly in Abuja, said that the agency was experiencing a resurgence and was being retrofitted to operate at full capacity.

    Marwa, represented by the Secretary of the agency, Bar. Shadrach Haruna, said the sheer size of the drugs destroyed was a reminder of the magnitude of the drug problem in the country.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had inaugurated the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign of the NDLEA on June 26.

    Marwa said President Buhari had declared that WADA should not just be a slogan, but a call to civil action by all Nigerians.

    According to him, the public destruction of 20 tons of illicit drugs and substances, further buttresses that call to action.

    “To be destroyed here today is approximately 20,000 kilograms of illicit drugs valued at over N50 billions.

    “Approximately, 19,598 kilograms of these assorted illicit drugs were seized by the FCT Command, comprising 19,178 kilograms of cannabis, 0.1 kilograms of cocaine, 0.009 kilograms of heroin and 420 kilograms of other psychotropic substances.

    “The remaining kilograms, seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, (NAIA) comprised 173 kilograms of cocaine, 36 kilograms of heroin, 93 kilograms of ephedrine, 60 kilograms of methamphetamine, 58 grams of cannabis, 219 grams of Rohypnol and 150 grams of Tramadol,” he said.

    Marwa assured that the agency would continue to engage all the critical stakeholders, including the traditional and religious institutions, community-based groups, the civil society, among others in the collective responsibility.

    The FCT commander, NDLEA, Dr Mohammed Sokoto, said the command had uncovered a lot of drugs in the FCT.

    Sokoto said the command had smashed various syndicates engaged in clandestine production of drugs based cookies, cakes, chocolate, candies among others.

    He assured the FCT community that the beginning of the end of drug activities in the city centre had finally come.

    He said the FCT command has also commenced the “Abuja Drug Free City Project as part of efforts to rid the territory of illicit drug abuse and trafficking.

    “The concept is a drug preventive strategy, in which all our parks, gardens, recreation centres, hospitality industry such as hotels, clubs, and guest houses will have Anti Drug Notice Boards conspicuously placed to prevent drug activities in those premises.”

    The Ona of Abaji, Dr Baba Yunusa, commended the NDLEA for the laudable achievement, saying the agency had since been carrying out its mandate in ensuring the territory and the country were drug free.

    Yunusa urged the youth to desist from drug use as it added no value to lives rather destroyed the beautiful future that awaited them.

    He assured the agency of his support to help fight the menace of drugs bedeviling the territory and the country at large.

    The FCT Minister, Mr Muhammad Bello, assured NDLEA of his support to help fight the scourge in the territory.

    The Minister, represented by the Director Security Service, FCTA, Dr Abdulatif Bello, said all hands must be on deck as the fight against drug abuse and trafficking was not for the NDLEA alone.

    “I commend the NDLEA for the good work. Drugs abuse and illicit trafficking is a cankerworm that must be addressed by all,” he said.

    Representatives of stakeholders such as Association of community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), the Judiciary among others commended the NDLEA for the success recorded so far since the chairman assumed office.

    The exercise took place in accordance with the prescription of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) concerning the best method of disposing seized drugs without polluting the environmental ecosystem or endangering public health.

  • Malami urges NDLEA new cadets to be patriotic, good ambassadors in fight against drug abuse

    Malami urges NDLEA new cadets to be patriotic, good ambassadors in fight against drug abuse

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has urged the new cadets of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to be patriotic and good ambassadors in fight against the menace of drug abuse in the country.
    Malami gave the advice when the newly-recruited cadets paid him a thank-you visit at his Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative (KJDI) Foundation’s office in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
    “As indigenes of Kebbi state, you should be good ambassadors, and be patriotic and deligent in serving our country.
    “The fight against drug and substance is a fight that you should exert all your efforts in order to rid this country of the menace,” he urged.
    The minister, represented by the Chairman of Khadimiyya Board of Trustees, Alhaji Abubakar Usman-Gotomo, commended the youth for the visit.
    “I will not relent in my efforts to provide the deserving youths with employment opportunities as well as the needed skills acquisition programmes for them to be productive members of the society and also contribute their quota to the development of the country.
    “Your selection was based on merits and educational backgrounds as well as the determination and endurance you demonstrated as you passed through rigorous training and huddles in the recruitment exercise.
    “Kebbi state is proud of your efforts and achievements, but it is now the beginning of your careers and at the same time, a new beginning to stand out amongst your peers in contributing your quota to the progress and development of country,” he enjoined.
    Speaking on behalf of the cadets, Narcotic Officer, Haliru Zakari-Gulma, extended their gratitude to the minister for his efforts in providing numerous opportunities for youths in the state.
    “All the candidates whose recruitment was facilitated via numerous gestures by the minister had successfully completed the training, commissioned last week and now posted to various formations of duties in the country,” he said.
    Zakari-Gulma assured that they would be patriotic, good ambassadors of the state and are determined to excel where ever they found themselves in the line of their official duties.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 1,978 new cadets graduated from the Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Course 15, 2021, in Jos on 19 November.
  • NDLEA intercepts cocaine worth N2.7bn at Abuja airport

    NDLEA intercepts cocaine worth N2.7bn at Abuja airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 9.30 kilograms of cociane worth over N2.7 billion at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

    The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said a 32-year-old drug trafficker based in Liberia, Maduabuchi Chinedu, was arrested with the consignment.

    Babafemi said the suspect who hailed from Obaha Okigwe village, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo state, lived in Liberia where he worked as a miner.

    He said the suspect was arrested during an inward joint search of Ethiopian Airlines flight 911 at the Abuja airport on Nov. 24.

    He said the drug, which weighed 9.30kg cocaine, was wrapped in candies wraps and concealed in the suspect’s luggage.

    According to him, during his preliminary interview, Chinedu claimed he left Nigeria in 2018 to settle in Liberia where he now has a residence permit.

    “He, however, added that economic pressure and the need to raise money to treat his mother for an eye problem led him to seek help from a friend in Liberia,” said the statement.

    Chinedu said it was the friend who introduced him to another friend based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who eventually gave him the drug to deliver in Abuja for a fee of N1 million.

    He added that he was initially scheduled to deliver the drug in Cote d’Ivoire but was rerouted to Nigeria at the last minute.

    Babafemi quoted the Chiarman, NDLEA, (rtd.), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the NAIA Command of the agency for their vigilance and working in synergy with other security agencies at the airport.

    Marwa charged them and their colleagues in other commands to always remain two steps ahead of merchants of death who are daily getting more desperate to make money at the expense of the image of the country and wellbeing of Nigerians.

  • NDLEA denies N4.5bn padding in its 2022 budget, says it was ‘typo error’

    NDLEA denies N4.5bn padding in its 2022 budget, says it was ‘typo error’

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has dismissed reports that N4.5 billion was padded into its proposed 2022 budget.

    In a statement on Wednesday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said it has been bombarded with calls and messages since Tuesday, seeking clarification on an alleged insertion of N4.5billion for the construction of police barracks into its proposed budget being considered by the Senate.

    “This statement is, therefore, a formal response and clarification of reports that suggest that the agency’s budget proposal submitted by the Federal Ministry of Finance was padded with N4.5billion for construction of police barracks.

    “It is public knowledge that President Muhamadu Buhari magnanimously approved the construction of barracks for NDLEA over a period of four years starting from the 2022 fiscal year,” the statement read in part.

    The NDLEA’s comments come a day after the Senate rejected the report of its Committee on Drugs and Narcotics when it uncovered the document that “illegally contained” N4.5 billion said to be for the construction of Police barracks.

    The agency, however, clarified that investigations have confirmed that the amount in question is indeed for the construction of NDLEA barracks but typographically inputted as ‘police barracks’ in one of the documents attached to the proposal from the Budget Office.

    Babafemi said the typo error has since been corrected and the budget cleared by the Senate Committee.

  • NDLEA arrests 12 dockworkers linked to N9.5bn seized cocaine

    NDLEA arrests 12 dockworkers linked to N9.5bn seized cocaine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the arrest of 12 dockworkers at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos linked to the importation of N9.5 billion cocaine.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Saturday in Abuja.

    A Federal High Court in Lagos had granted an application by NDLEA for the interim attachment of a vessel MV Chayanee Naree used to import the 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the port.

    Beside the attachment order, the court also granted NDLEA’s request to detain the Master of the ship, Mr Tanahan Krilerk.

    It also granted NDLEA’s request to detain 21 foreign national crew members as well as the dockworkers arrested in connection with the case.

    The anti-narcotic agency had on Oct. 13 intercepted the ship at the Apapa Seaport following intelligence from international partners and support from the Nigerian Navy, Customs, DSS and the police.

    A thorough search of the ship led to the recovery of 30 parcels containing cocaine, which weighed 32.9kg worth N9.5 billion in street value.

    The application in suit no: FHC/L/CS/1518/2021, which was filed by the agency’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Sunday, on Oct. 28, was granted on Oct. 29 by Justice A.O. Awogboro.

    An application to renew the remand order was also filed on Friday, Nov. 12 because of the volume of evidence coming out from the cooperation of the suspects in custody.

    Bababfemi said that NDLEA’s clarification became necessary following claims by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria that some of its members were being detained unlawfully by the agency.

    Babafemi said that of the total number of 18 dockworkers initially interviewed by operatives, six of them with no sufficient evidence linking them to the crime had been released.

    He added that 12 others with significant links were cooperating in the on-going investigation.

    “In line with intelligence available, there is a syndicate of dockworkers, crew members with apparent international conspirators who work in synergy to traffic in illicit substances,’’ he stated.

    He added that while the substances were concealed in the shipment from the originating port, the dockworkers assisted to pick up the illicit consignment for onward delivery to the Nigerian drug barons.

    “In the case of criminal investigation of this magnitude, it is lawful and expedient to investigate those within the purview of the agency’s reasonable suspicion.

    “Already, two dockworkers are now on the run after absconding from their place of work, since the beginning of the investigation.

    “All the agency’s actions are guided by international best practices and in line with Global Maritime Standard Operational Procedure on arrest, seizure and detention of vessels and crew members,’’ Babafemi stated.

  • NDLEA arrests notorious drug dealer behind London-bound multiple consignments

    NDLEA arrests notorious drug dealer behind London-bound multiple consignments

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has arrested a suspected notorious drug dealer, Mr Okoli Ikenna, described as the mastermind of recent multiple attempts to export illicit drugs.

    The agency made the disclosure of the arrest in a statement, released by Mr Femi Babafemi, its Director, Media and Advocacy, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Bababfemi said that the suspect had been linked to several trafficking in illicit drugs to London, United Kingdom, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

    He noted that the suspect had been on bail, granted by a Lagos State Federal High Court after he was arraigned in November 2020 over a charge of an attempt to export 15.700kgs of Methamphetamine to Australia.

    Babafemi said the agency has since then been investigating the suspect’s activities linked to recent multiple attempts to export illicit drugs to the UK which culminated in his arrest on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

    According to him, the suspect had on him 78 parcels of Cannabis, concealed in black soap packs labelled as Dudu Osun, with a total weight of 12.250 kilogrammes while attempting to fly to the UK.

    Bababfemi said that further investigation revealed that the suspect had been behind the attempt to export 7.350kgs of Cannabis to the UK on Thursday Oct. 21.

    He said that officials of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed at the MMIA,intercepted the consignments.

    Bababfemi said “curiously, a separate investigation by operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, (DOGI,) of the Agency, attached to courier companies, have equally traced two other attempts to the suspect.

    “An attempt to export 47.7kgs of cannabis to the UK through courier firms, to Okoli after his agents were arrested in the course of investigation, named him as the owner of the consignments,” he said.

  • How I bought television, furniture, others in my office on assumption of duty as NDLEA chair – Buba Marwa

    How I bought television, furniture, others in my office on assumption of duty as NDLEA chair – Buba Marwa

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Chairman National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa on Wednesday said on assumption of office he had to buy furniture and television set for his office from his pocket, insisting the agency is poorly funded.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Marwa made this revelation during the 2022 budget defence of his agency before the House of Representatives committee on Narcotics in Abuja on Wednesday.

    According to Marwa, drug addiction and trafficking is a major social and economic concern across the globe and Nigeria as a nation is not left out.

    He said “billions of dollars are been voted every year by these countries to fight the scourge as well as go into cross borders agreement to stop illicit trade from getting into their countries.

    He explained that the agency is grossly under funded to the extent that on resumption as chairman of the agency, he bought his own television set and office furniture from his purse.

    The former governor of Lagos State listed various areas the agency is lacking which includes inadequate funding to required arms and ammunitions, vehicles for operations, accommodation for staff and low budget for media and publicity to mention a few.

    Members of the committee expressed their desire to assist the agency in everyway possible to function effectively and efficiently.

    The committee also promised to render all assistance to ensure more funding for the the agency to provide equipment and for the welfare of its personnel to enable operatives block access of illicit drugs in the country.

  • What we’ll do to politicians involved in illicit drug business – NDLEA chair

    What we’ll do to politicians involved in illicit drug business – NDLEA chair

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, has warned politicians against sponsoring or encouragingthe use of illicit drugs.

    Marwa stated this on Thursday during the weekly ministerial briefing at the State House in Abuja.

    He stressed that where there was evidence of the involvement of any politician in illicit drug business, the agency would not hesitate to prosecute anyone involved.

    According to the NDLEA boss, the agency will never support the economic use of cannabis because there is no scientific proof that it heals.

    With about 10.6 million users, Nigeria leads in the consumption of cannabis, hence its legalisation would never be considered in the interest of the nation, he added.

    Marwa proposed that politicians should not only advance advocacy against illicit drug use but be subjected to a test before being entrusted with the responsibility of public offices.

    He proposed 20 years or life sentence for drug traffickers to replace the option of a fine, as enshrined in the NDLEA Act currently under revision in the National Assembly.