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Tag: Ahmadu Giade

  • Court restrains AGF, NDLEA from arresting Kashamu

    Court restrains AGF, NDLEA from arresting Kashamu

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday restrained the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and its ex-Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, from arresting or detaining Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    The order granted by Justice Gabriel Kolawole after listening to Kashamu’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, moved an ex-parte filed in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015.

    Justice Kolawole said the order will subsist until February 10 when he will give a considered ruling on the matter.

    Kashamu, former Director of Mobilisation, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the Senate.

    Giade, who was a former NDLEA Chairman, is now Special Adviser to the AGF on narcotics.

    Kashamu, in the motion ex-parted, is seeking three prayers, which include an order of interim injunction, restraining the three (listed as alleged contemnors in the motion) from arresting, detaining or applying for a warrant for his arrest in relation to his alleged involvement in drug trade, pending the determination of the contempt proceedings he initiated against them.

    The motion was  brought pursuant to Order 35 Rule 2(1) and 26 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules (2009) and Section (6)(6) of the Constitution.

     

  • Giade bows out as NDLEA chairman

    Giade bows out as NDLEA chairman

    The chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, on Wednesday bowed out of the agency after 10 years of service.

    Speaking after a colourful ceremony held at the Ikoyi office the agency, Giade said:” I am leaving the NDLEA better than I met it 10 years ago. My greatest legacy is the zero tolerance for corruption. If we must continue to dislodge drug barons and eradicate drugs from our society, we must remain forthright and committed to drug control programmes. I am leaving behind a legacy of proactive and intelligence-led organisation.

    “The agency under my watch has a representative at INTERPOL headquarters and has successfully raised the international profile of the country through unprecedented seizures of drugs and arrest of drug barons.”

    He cited the removal of Nigeria from the drug majors list by the United States government and cordial working relationship with stakeholders as some of the significant achievements recorded in the last 10 years.

    “The removal of Nigeria from the major drug list opened door to a robust cooperation and partnership with stakeholders. NDLEA has enjoyed unprecedented training programmes for officers sponsored by United States Germany, Spain, France and the European Union,” he added.

    Giade, however, urged the new NDLEA boss to take officers’ welfare as priority.

     

  • NDLEA warns against debit card smuggling

    NDLEA warns against debit card smuggling

    The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has warned passengers smuggling Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to desist from such act or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

    The NDLEA boss gave the warning following the arrest at the weekend of two passengers with 89 debit cards at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    Giade said the suspects conspired with others to evade scrutiny from government agencies by opening various bank accounts with the aim of using the debit cards for daily withdrawals abroad.

    He said, “This is a process of money laundering where multiple debit cards are used to withdraw money to circumvent the minimum amount of daily withdrawal. That criminal plan will not work because we shall continue to seize such cards and arrest the perpetrators at all entry and exit points,”

    The NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, gave the names of the suspects as Nweke Pauline Osita (40) and Egesiokwu Frank Chukwudi (41).

    “We arrested Nweke Pauline Osita with 65 debit cards and Egesiokwu Frank Chukwudi with 24 debit cards during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight to China,” Garba stated.

  • ‎ Lagos raid: NDLEA investigates law graduate’s death

    The Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has directed the agency’s Director of Operations and General Investigation, Mr. Olugbenga Mabo, to investigate the reported death of a 32- year- old law graduate, Dapo Olasore.

    The report of the investigation is expected to be submitted within 48 hours.

    Giade said that the primary responsibility of the agency is to protect lives and promote security by preventing illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.

    “The reported death of a man during a raid by our operatives is sad and regrettable. One of the cardinal responsibilities of the agency is the protection of lives and property.

    “Drug offenders are to be arrested and prosecuted. I have therefore directed that this incident be investigated and the report submitted within 48 hours.

    “My sympathy goes to the family and friends of the deceased as well as all Nigerians.

    Let me also assure members of the public that the life of every citizen is precious to the agency and whoever is found guilty must be brought to justice,” the NDLEA chief stated.

    The NDLEA operation was conducted in response to intelligence report on the illicit activities of a suspected drug dealer identified as Saheed.

    One Babalola, who works for him was however apprehended, while some dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis were equally seized during the operation.

     

  • Court bars NDLEA from arresting Kashamu

    Court bars NDLEA from arresting Kashamu

    Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday  stopped the police and other law enforcement agencies from arresting or extraditing the Senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu, to the United States to stand trial for alleged drug trafficking.

    ‎He made the order while delivering judgment in a fundamental rights suit FHC/L/CS/508/15, filed by Kashamu against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and 11 others, just as he awarded N20,000 cost in favour of the applicant against Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, and N10,000 against the National Security Adviser (NSA), Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to be paid before further steps can be taken.

    The judge declared as illegal any attempt to abduct or forcibly transport Kashamu to the U.S to stand trial in relation to drug-trafficking allegations, for which he had been exonerated by two British courts.

    He further held that having earlier obtained a subsisting court judgment in Nigeria on January 6, last year, restraining his arrest, extradition to the U.S, Kashamu cannot be arrested or extradited to the America by the respondents.

    Suspecting a conspiracy between the AGF, Mohammed Adoke and the IGP, Solomon Arase, to abduct and whisk him to U.S before his swearing-in as Senator on May 29, Kashamu had in April, instituted a suit before the court, seeking nine declarative orders against the agencies.

    ‎Other respondents in the suit include Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Director General, State Security Service (SSS); The Interpol National Central Bureau, (NCB); the Clerk of the National Assembly; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Nigeria Custom Services (NCS), and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

  • NDLEA: cannabis cultivation threatens security

    NDLEA: cannabis cultivation threatens security

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has said cannabis cultivation is a threat to the nation’s security.

    Giade spoke yesterday when the NDLEA destroyed 50 hectares of cannabis plantation at Epele Forest Reserve in Ondo State.

    He vowed to prosecute forest guards who turned a blind eye to criminal activities and anyone who connived with cannabis cultivators.

    The destruction followed a special operation involving 70 NDLEA officers from the Southwest Commands and 50 labourers.

    Giade said: “The NDLEA will not hesitate to prosecute any forest guard who aids and abets cannabis cultivators. Cannabis constitutes a serious threat to security and the NDLEA is determined to eradicate narcotic drugs. Cannabis use can induce rape, unprotected sex, political violence, murder, militancy and many more.

    “This is the second cannabis farm destruction within the past one month. This shall be a continuous exercise until cannabis cultivation is eradicated.

    “The first one was 184 hectares while this is 50 hectares. We are looking forward with optimism to a time when farmers will abandon cannabis for only food and cash crops.”

    The NDLEA Director of Operations and Investigation, Mr. Olugbenga Mabo, led the operation which was attended by the Ondo State Commander, Mr. Walter Nicholas; Assistant Director, Operations, Mr. Fred Ezeora; Ondo State Assistant Commander Operations, Mr. Femi Agboalu and other principal officers.

    Mabo noted that cannabis farm destruction is a proactive strategy to cut off cannabis supply which affects the image of the country.

     

     

     

    He said: “We achieve more when we destroy cannabis farms than waiting to intercept the drug after it had been harvested by the cultivators.

    “When citizens get caught for trafficking in cannabis outside the country, the image of Nigeria is affected. Let me commend the officers that participated in this assignment because, they walked for over four hours and worked in the rain all night long.

    “They crossed over many rivers and surmounted several obstacles to get the job done. Drug control is a hazardous job but we are working very hard to overcome our logistic challenges such as inadequate vehicles and funds” the director stated.

    One of the suspects whose farm was among those destroyed, Charles Osanebi, told NDLEA investigators that he would have harvested a minimum 40 bags of cannabis from his farm.

    He said: “This is my first time of cultivating cannabis in this forest. I was introduced into cannabis cultivation because I needed money.”

     

  • ‘No escape for NDLEA officers’ killers’

    ‘No escape for NDLEA officers’ killers’

    There is no hiding place for the killers of three National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers in Owode, Ogun State, the agency’s Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said yesterday.

    Bolaji Owolodun, Rabiu Usman Kazaure and Ishaku Joshua were killed by hoodlums on Sunday while trying to arrest “a notorious cannabis dealer”, Azeez Babatunde.

    In a statement, Giade said: “It is shocking that officers on legitimate assignment will be attacked and killed by people whose interest they are protecting. I have ordered investigation into the incident and the agency will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are arrested and dealt with.

    “These gallant heroes have paid the supreme price for a drug-free society. We shall immortalise them by punishing the culprits and sustain the fight against drug barons. The agency will take good care of their families.”

    Ogun State NDLEA Commander Bala Fagge said Babatunde was in the Agency’s custody.

    He said: “We have the main suspect in our custody and he will be charged to court soon. An officer, who sustained injury, is recuperating in the hospital.”

     

  • Pakistani student held with 25.4kg heroin

    Pakistani student held with 25.4kg heroin

    Attempt by a suspected Pakistani drug cartel to smuggle 25.4 kilogrammes of high-grade heroin into Nigeria has been aborted with the arrest of a Pakistani student, Iftikihar Muhammed Arslan.

    He was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The drug, which was uncovered in the suspect’s luggage during inward screening of passengers on board Qatar airline flight, according to the agency, has an estimated street value of N228 million.

    The suspect reportedly left Lahore, Pakistan, with the drug to Abu Dhabi (then Doha) from where he connected Lagos. He is believed to be working for a Pakistani drug cartel and it is said to be the largest single seizure of heroin at the Lagos airport since January.

    NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the 19-year-old Pakistani was found with 25 parcels of brownish substances that tested positive for heroin weighing 25.4 kilogrammes at the arrival hall of the airport.

    Iftikihar, who speaks English fluently, confessed to the crime, saying: “I am a student of Punjab College and I am in Nigeria as a tourist because my friend told me that Victoria Island and Ikoyi are beautiful tourist centres. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Lagos airport, the heroin was found in my luggage. This is my first time of coming to Nigeria and I had intended to spend a week or two.”

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the arrest and seizure would send warning signals to drug trafficking cartels that Nigeria is winning the fight against narcotics. He added: “We are working very hard to also identify other members of the criminal group. All suspects linked to the crime will be charged to court after investigations.”

  • US pledges to assist Nigeria in anti-terrorism

    US pledges to assist Nigeria in anti-terrorism

    The United States government has promised to support Nigeria in its fight against narcotics, money laundering, terrorism and other transnational crimes.

    U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle spoke in Ikoyi, Lagos, at the national headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    Entwistle, his wife, Pamela; the U.S Consul General Jeffery Hawkins and other embassy officials were received by NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Ahmadu Giade.

    The envoy said he embarked on the visit because crime control was a priority.

    He said: “This is my first official visit, after presenting my letter of credence to President Goodluck Jonathan. I am delighted to be here because of the need for partnership against transnational crimes, such as drug trafficking, money laundering and terrorism.

    “Our attitude is to share experience and provide military assistance through training on drug control and counter-terrorism.”

    Giade thanked Entwistle for the U.S support in the fight against narcotics.

    He said: “Our partnership with the U.S has broadened our frontiers of drug control.

    “The impressive operational results recorded from training, sponsored by your government as well as the donation of drug detection equipment, has made our entry and exit points more impregnable to drug trafficking cartels.”

    The NDLEA chief promised to deepen the working relationship with the U.S.

  • Spare parts dealer hides heroin in stomach

    Spare parts dealer hides heroin in stomach

    •Syndicate abandons drug at airport

    A 38-year-old auto spares’ dealer, Ohagwu Ernest Ifeanyi, who attempted boarding a Qatar Airline Flight to China with 735 grammes of substance suspected to be heroin hidden in his stomach, has been arrested. The drug, weighing 10.005 kilogrammes, is valued at over N80 million.

    A suspected drug syndicate also abandoned 9.27 kilogrammes of heroin brought in from Pakistan at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) discovered the drug inside an abandoned luggage on the conveyor belt during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirate Flight.

    NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport Mr Hamza Umar described the seizure is a good way to start the year, considering the value of the drug.

    “The heroin seizures comprising 9.270kg imported from Pakistan and 735 grammes ingested by one Ohagwu Earnest Ifeanyi weighed 10.005 kilogrammes. The suspect was arrested following a positive test for drug ingestion,” Hamza stated.

    Ifeanyi, who hails from Enugu State, said: “I sell auto spares at Onitsha where I live with my wife and two children. My involvement in drugs was to enable me recover the N2 million loss I incurred in my business. A friend of mine who is based in China introduced me to drug trafficking. They were to pay me 2,500 dollars. They gave me the heroin to swallow in a hotel room in Lagos, but I was arrested at the airport.”

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said: “Drug cartels only abandon their highly valued drugs when it becomes impossible to beat security checks. This seizure clearly underscores the agency’s steady progress in counter-narcotics operations.”

    “Besides taking the seized drug out of circulation, we have also prevented the suspect from facing possible death penalty in China for drug trafficking. The agency will leave no stone unturned in the fight against drug barons,” Giade added.