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  • NDLEA and the seizure of fake dollars

    NDLEA and the seizure of fake dollars

    By Blessing Aliyu

    Sir: A few weeks ago, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the arrest of some persons suspected of trafficking in counterfeit currencies from whom fake $4.9 million and CFA57 million were seized. 

    Incidentally, the operatives of the anti-narcotics agency were conducting a routine search on vehicles on the Abuja-Lokoja Highway when they stumbled on these fake currencies.  

    For well-meaning citizens, the report of the arrest and seizure was a good development because, had those counterfeits made it into circulation, we could only imagine the number of Nigerians that would lose their hard-earned money. And in this time of serious austerity, that would further compound the woes of the victims. Hence, NDLEA operatives deserve commendations.  

    Ironically and unfortunately, the reactions of some Nigerians to the news smack of derision and ignorance, hence this intervention to educate them. They, especially young people, were busy on social media, questioning why NDLEA operatives made the seizure since counterfeit money is not, according to them, within the jurisdiction of drug law enforcement. Some even expressed scepticism about the authenticity of the arrest, claiming that it was staged. Such irrational reactions exposed the hidden apathy and hostility harboured by some Nigerians against law enforcement. 

    I think society needs to school these sceptics that there is nothing wrong with an arm of law enforcement busting crimes that are not directly under its purview. 

    Of course, NDLEA made it clear the suspects and the exhibits were transferred to the relevant authority, in this case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  

    This is not the first time that NDLEA would intercept fake money. This latest, which happened on October 15, is probably the fourth time in 22 months based on information available on the internet. 

    We can recall that on January 21, NDLEA recovered counterfeit $269,000 from a drug syndicate in Lagos after the arrest of three suspects. Also, on August 20, another 20 million counterfeit dollars were intercepted by NDLEA operatives along the Abaji-Lokoja expressway.  Last year, on February 21, operatives of the agency intercepted another fake $4.7 million in cash. In the cases not involving illicit drugs, suspects and exhibits were transferred to the relevant law enforcement agency.  

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    NDLEA had also in the past intercepted human traffickers with the suspects and their victims handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The most recent example of this was in September when NDLEA operatives rescued five pregnant teenage victims of trafficking in Imo State and promptly handed them over to NAPTIP officials who are more equipped to handle such cases. 

    There are few instances where the agency caught bandits and gun runners with sophisticated weapons and transferred them, suspects and exhibits, to the Nigerian Army.  Similarly, there have been reports of Nigeria Customs Service seizing illicit drugs which were then handed over to NDLEA or NAFDAC. 

    In September, for instance, Customs handed over cannabis and opioids worth N699.5 million to NDLEA. All of these speak volumes about the existing synergy among law enforcement, security, and regulatory bodies.  

    It should be noted that the motive of law enforcement is to stop crime first. To those not happy about this synergy: Would they have preferred that NDLEA operatives look the other way and allow those purveyors of fake dollars to go scot-free since they didn’t find any illicit drugs during the check?  

    We all know the havoc those fake dollars would have caused to our economy. It shouldn’t matter whether it was NDLEA, Customs, or NSCDC that busted the crime; what should matter is the fact that the crime was stopped in its tracks.  

    We should look past our cynicism and appreciate law enforcement that works. Lest we forget, our collective security lies in law enforcement prevailing over crime and criminals.

    •Blessing Aliyu,

     Gombi, Adamawa State

  • NDLEA arrests two businessmen at Abuja Airport for ingesting cocaine, heroine

    NDLEA arrests two businessmen at Abuja Airport for ingesting cocaine, heroine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested two businessmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja, with consignments of cocaine and heroin going concealed inside their stomachs.

    A statement by the director, media and advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, October 29, indicated they were headed for Hong Kong and France.

    According to the statement, one of the suspects, 38-year-old ThankGod Chimamkpa Emenike, was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Friday 20th October during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France flight 818 to Paris.

    The second suspect, 41-year-old Agbo Chidike Prince, was taken into NDLEA custody on Saturday 21st October while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 950 to Hong Kong via Addis Ababa.

    The spokesman of the NDLEA said they were both arrested and detained after their body scan revealed they ingested illicit drugs.

    He said after days in custody and a number of excretions, Emenike excreted 72 wraps of heroin weighing 1.171 kilograms, while Chidike discharged 49 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 998.53grams.

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    Babafemi said in his statement, Chidike claimed he is a businessman dealing in spare parts at the Alaba International market in Ojo area of Lagos.

    The suspect added that he was to be paid N3.5million which he intended to use to import goods from Hong Kong.

    The statement reads: “In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos on Wednesday 25th October intercepted a Qatar Airways flight passenger going to Oman, Agbo Celestine Tochukwu with a consignment of 58 parcels of skunk weighing 29.10kgs while undergoing processes to board his flight at the terminal 11 of the airport.

    “In his statement, Tochukwu claimed he relocated to Oman on 6th May and has been working as hotel attendant in Oman before venturing into drug trafficking.

    “Meanwhile, a total of 2,197 kilograms of skunk were recovered in four interdiction operations in parts of Ondo state within four days. While 1,165.5kgs were seized in Uso, Owo LGA on Wednesday 25th October, a consignment of 691kgs were recovered from Ukugu forest in Ipele the previous day, Tuesday 24th October.

    “A suspect, Ifeanyi Abuguja, 32, was arrested with 87kgs of same substance on Monday 23rd October at Agula Road, Ogbese, Akure North LGA, while 253.5kgs were recovered at Ogbese market in Akure North LGA on Thursday 26th October.

    “In Oyo state, two suspects: Ayo Dele, 19, and Olaitan Ahmed, 23, were arrested with 160 grams of cannabis at a drug joint at Nalende area of Ibadan metropolis on Sunday 22nd October while a follow up operation at their warehouse in the same area led to the recovery of 332kgs of the same substance.

    “While operatives of the Lagos Command of the Agency intercepted and recovered a vehicle loaded with 209kgs of Loud at Okun Ajah area of the state on Monday 23rd October, their counterparts in Gombe on Saturday 28th October recovered an abandoned consignment of 401 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 392kgs and 21,000 capsules of tramadol at Tumfure area of the state.

    “In the early hours of today, Sunday 29th October, NDLEA operatives in Edo state stormed the Utese forest in Ovia North East LGA, where they evacuated a total of 2, 931.3 kilograms of cannabis sativa from a warehouse in the forest.

    “The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign of the Agency continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship places and others across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA town hall sensitization lecture by Zone E command in collaboration with Kano and Jigawa commands of the Agency for 108 principals of secondary schools in Dutse Emirate; same lecture for students and teachers of Nkpoghoro community secondary school, Afikpo, Ebonyi state; students and teachers of Government Secondary School and Community Comprehensive School, both in Abua/Odual LGA, Rivers state as well as WADA sensitisation lecture at Durbar Grammar School, Durbar, Oyo state.

    “While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Edo and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to maintain the offensive action tempo and strive to surpass previous records while maintaining a balance with their drug demand reduction efforts.”

  • Drug war: NDLEA ‘ll deploy personnel in 774 LGAs in 2024 – Marwa

    Drug war: NDLEA ‘ll deploy personnel in 774 LGAs in 2024 – Marwa

    • Katsina gov seeks partnership with agency

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has said that the anti-narcotics body will deploy personnel in all 774 local government areas of the country in 2024.

    This, he said, would be part of efforts to strengthen the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking especially in local communities.

    He stated this while responding to a request for partnership and deployment of more NDLEA officers in all parts of Katsina by the state governor, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda to tame the problem of drug abuse and insecurity in the state.

    He said with the agency’s staff strength expected to rise to 15,000 by the end of the year, the next “development is to deploy in the LGAs. We currently have zonal commands, state commands, and area commands. We want to go to the LGAs for the offensive action and the advocacy work.

    “We would need more support to succeed. I appreciate the work of the Katsina governor as the challenges are numerous in governing the state. But if insecurity is a problem and is fueled by drugs, I believe we have to collectively take it out of the security equation.”

    He commended the Kaduna governor for his efforts to surmount the various challenges faced and enhance the socio-economic development of the state.

    According to him, “The drug menace is a huge issue and has destroyed the lives of our youths and communities. It is the public enemy number one, and especially the criminal aspect of it. 99% of the criminals must first have access to drugs and be under the influence to perpetrate some of their acts. That is why the NDLEA under the collective support of the directorates and the management has put all efforts towards operation ‘offensive action.’

    “This involves going out to seize all drugs cultivated, imported, or on the verge of being exported out of the country. Over 6,668 tons of illicit substances have been seized in two years, and we assure you that we will continue relentlessly until the streets are clean of drugs. This is the drug supply reduction aspect, where we arrest the perpetrators of the act, and over 36,096 suspects have been arrested and more than 6,043 already prosecuted and convicted within this period.”

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    Speaking earlier, Governor Radda said he was at the Agency as part of his government’s efforts to solve the problem of insecurity facing the state.

     “It is no longer news that the problem of insecurity has been ongoing for years and insecurity is one of the major issues confronting Katsina State. We receive unpleasant news almost on a daily basis on what has been the issues disturbing the state for a long time. We have taken some needful steps, we set up a Katsina community watch corps with locals to complement the efforts of the conventional security agencies but that is not enough.

    “We decided to reach out to the NDLEA under the leadership of the Chairman/Chief Executive to combine our efforts and synergise to mitigate the effect of insecurity in the state. We must get to the root of the problem, and the root of the problem is drug abuse by the teeming youths in the state. We know that these inhumane acts cannot be committed without the influence of drugs.

    “This synergy is important and I recognize that the NDLEA has been making a lot of efforts in supporting the government. But we still need more support from the Chairman/Chief Executive to stop the movement of drugs and ensure the arrest and prosecution of dealers in the state.”

    “We are appealing for better partnership and synergy to reduce the abuse of drugs, the activities of banditry and trafficking in the state. We hope the partnership will go a long way in alleviating the issues of the state and improving the economy. Once insecurity is reduced, economic activities will be conducted better.

    “I appeal to the NDLEA for this support, and on behalf of the Katsina State government, we appreciate the NDLEA for the work you are doing. We hope this visit enhances a better working relationship between the NDLEA and the state”, the governor said.

  • Army hands over two suspects with 512 wraps of Indian hemp to NDLEA in Bauchi

    Army hands over two suspects with 512 wraps of Indian hemp to NDLEA in Bauchi

    Troops of the Nigerian Army 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi have intercepted two suspected drug peddlers carrying 512 parcels of Indian hemp concealed in a branded energy drink pickup.

     The arrest was made on Monday, October 2023, at 8:00 p.m.

    The suspects, Adamu Ali, and Mohammed Idon 42, were stopped by the brigade’s personnel at Ringin Gani village along Jos road in the Toro Local Government area of the state.

    The Commandant of the 33 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Egbe disclosed this while handing over the suspects and the items recovered from them to Officials of NDLEA on Tuesday in Bauchi

    Egbe represented by Acting Garrison Commander, Lt. Col. Abdulrahman Modibbo said the items discovered in their possession included 512 parcels of suspected cannabis sativa, concealed within four bags, along with 104 packs of soft drinks used as a cover for the illegal substances.

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    He mentioned other exhibits as four mobile phones, five ATM cards, a driver’s license, two padlocks, and a sum of N13,550 in cash.

    He said: “The substances were hidden in a branded energy drink pickup with the registration number AKD 654 XT Lagos.”

    In response, Mr. Nimfa Joel, Chief Superintendent of Narcotics at the NDLEA, commended the army for their diligent work in combating drug trafficking and abuse

    He pledged that the NDLEA would initiate an investigation and proceed with the prosecution of the suspects.

  • Cannabis trafficker sentenced to 10 years, as Kano NDLEA secures seven convictions

    Cannabis trafficker sentenced to 10 years, as Kano NDLEA secures seven convictions

    The Federal High Court in Kano State, presided over by Justice S. A. Amobeda, has sentenced Muhammad Bako Sambo, a notorious cannabis sativa trafficker, to 10 years imprisonment.

    Spokesman for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA) in Kano, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, in a statement yesterday described the ruling as a “landmark victory” for the agency.

    “The NDLEA’s successful prosecution sends a clear message to all those involved in the illegal trade and transportation of cannabis and other illicit substances,” he said.

    Maigatari said Sambo, who had been transporting large quantities of cannabis from Ondo and other southern states to the North, was arrested on November 11, 2020.

    It was gathered NDLEA officers on patrol along the Kano-Zaria road became suspicious and stopped a Honda Accord that initially refused to stop. After a pursuit, Sambo was arrested in the Hotoro area of Kano State.

    Read Also: NDLEA nabs two drug barons

    Investigations led to the discovery of 201 kilogrammes of dried leaves of cannabis sativa in his vehicle, in violation of the NDLEA Act.

    His real identity and residence in Lokogoma, Abuja, were subsequently confirmed.

    The Kano NDLEA said it secured seven convictions this month, including Sambo’s.

    The NDLEA spokesman said the Kano State Commander, Abubakar Idris Ahmad, has been relentless in his efforts to rid the state of illicit drug activities, adding that NDLEA, under Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa, has brought a paradigm shift in the agency’s prosecution efforts.

    Ahmad hailed the dedication of his prosecutors and reiterated the NDLEA’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking.

    “This case is a significant victory in our ongoing fight against drug trafficking. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who traffic illegal substances face the full weight of the law,” he said.

  • NDLEA nabs two drug barons

    NDLEA nabs two drug barons

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested two wanted drug barons, Hakeem Babatunde Salami and Okafor Ikechukwu Williams, and seized illicit drugs and assets worth billions of naira from them after weeks of intelligence-led operations across and outside the country.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the arrest of the wanted drug lords came on the heels of the interception of consignments of cocaine and heroin buried in the bellies of two traffickers heading for Paris, France and Doha, Qatar by NDLEA officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

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    Babafemi said operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos on October 10 succeeded in taking into custody, Hakeem Babatunde Salami, the arrowhead of “Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organisation”, involved in the illicit trade of several narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique and Europe.

    The NDLEA spokesman said Salami fled Nigeria to South Africa upon the arrest of a member of his syndicate, Suleiman Babatunde Oba, at the Lagos airport on August 25 over attempt to export 25.10kgs of ephedrine to South Africa.

  • Reps urge NDLEA, NOA, others to sensitize girls on drug, alcohol abuse

    Reps urge NDLEA, NOA, others to sensitize girls on drug, alcohol abuse

    The House of Representatives has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other relevant stakeholders to initiate ways of educating and sensitizing adolescent girls on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

    The House also urged the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that are saddled with the responsibility of training and empowerment to ensure compulsory vocational skills acquisition training for girls to keep them engaged and productive enough to keep them away from drugs.

    It further urged the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Maryam Babangida National Center for Women Development, and the National Agency Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) to build well-furnished rehabilitation shelters/homes for sexual abuse survivors across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    It also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to drastically reduce/eradicate the number of out-of-school girls by ensuring compulsory free education for girls across the country.

    The House mandated the Committee on Women’s Affairs to engage with all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to ensure compliance.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests 67-year-old, destroys over 11 tonnes of cannabis in Ogun, Edo forests

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being’” moved by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.

    The House noted that the 11th of October every year is globally celebrated as International Day of the Girl-Child and this year’s theme is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”.

    The House said it provides a platform for the global community to understand the disadvantages the Girl-Child faces in life.

    It also noted that International Day of the Girl-Child is a day adopted by the United Nations to remind young girls of their uniqueness, strength, and prowess.

    The House said it is a day set aside to address issues such as early or child marriage, violence against girls, rape, child molestation, education deprivation and all other issues faced by girls.

    The House said the International Day of the Girl Child acknowledges the importance, power and potential of adolescent girls around the world by spotlighting other issues such as poor learning opportunities, discrimination, tackling issues posed by stereotypes and exclusion of children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities.

    The motion reads: “The House also aware that adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated and healthy life, investing in girls’ leadership includes creating space and platforms for girls to raise their voices at every level of policymaking;

    “The House is further aware that in most countries, patriarchy and power dynamics affords boys comparative advantages compared to girls in most domain; the last survey from UNICEF revealed that 18.5 million children are out of school, and out of this number, 60% are girls a factor that left them behind across multiple dimensions;

    “The House is worried about the high number of out-of-school girls that engage in drugs and other vices, throughout history, girls have been systematically held back and undervalued in society;

    “The House informed that investment in critical steps such as the Girls Rights under the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will help to fast track the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

    “The House also informed that the current trend in Nigeria reveals that young girls who are sexually abused by their parents/guardians, return back to the same house where they were abused after police intervention.”

  • NDLEA arrests 67-year-old, destroys over 11 tonnes of cannabis in Ogun, Edo forests

    NDLEA arrests 67-year-old, destroys over 11 tonnes of cannabis in Ogun, Edo forests

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested a 67-year-old trafficker, Chukwuemeka Clement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja for allegedly ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine.

    Spokesman of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, who revealed this in a statement on Sunday, October 8, said Clement claimed he ventured into the illicit business to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh after wasting 30 years of his life in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand.

    Babafemi said Chukwuemeka was arrested on Tuesday 3rd October during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight 951 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and taken for body scan, which revealed multiple pellets in his stomach.

    He said while under observation, the suspect excreted a total of 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.195 kilograms in four excretions.

    Babafemi said: “In his statement, he claimed to have spent 30 years in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand, while he was once married, but lost his wife and without a child. He added that was why he decided to go into drug trafficking to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh.”

    According to the statement, on the same day, Tuesday 3rd October, NDLEA operatives at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, intercepted a 45-year-old woman, Bilkisu Mohammed Bello while preparing to board a Saudia Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia.

    Read Also: Mohbad: We responded to police enquiry since September 28, says NDLEA

    The Agency’s spokesman said while being interviewed, she confessed that pellets of cocaine given to her to swallow before her flight were kept in a house in Farawa area of Kano.

    Babafemi said when she led NDLEA officers to the house, 52 wraps of the illicit substance with a total weight of 767grams were recovered.

    The statement read: “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives supported by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun personnel on Tuesday 3rd October stormed James town, in Ogunmakin, Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state where they located and destroyed 10.38 tonnes of cannabis sativa covering over 4.152 hectares.

    “While on their way back from the operation, the team also intercepted
    a truck marked FS548XN carrying a 40ft container loaded with logs of wood. A search of the container led to the recovery of two bags of cannabis sativa weighing 20kgs while six suspects: Ahmed Yusuf, Olaniyi Babatunde, Adedeji Babatunde, Richard John, Osolale Olamilekan and Abdulazeez Saied, in the truck were arrested.

    “In the same vein, operatives on Sunday 1st October raided Obi camp in Owan West LGA, Edo state where 30 sacks of skunk weighing 300kgs and concealed in charcoal were evacuated from an old dilapidated mud house. Similarly, two cannabis farms measuring 1.179065 hectares at Igbanke forest in Orhiowon local government area of the state were identified and destroyed on Friday 6th October while four suspects: Tersoo Zaria, 28; Ifeanyi Osai, 53; Moses David, 19, and Daniel Gabriel, 20, were arrested.

    “In Gombe state, a suspect, Auwal Bindow was arrested on Friday 6th October along Bauchi – Gombe road with 50,000 capsules of tramadol, while in Oyo state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway nabbed Anuoluwapo Blessing Iyanu, 32, with 52 blocks of compressed pawpaw shaped cannabis sativa weighing 30kgs on Wednesday 4th October.

    “With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Igbonnibi High School, Ila Orangun, Osun state; WADA sensitisation lecture at Royal Ambassador Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue state; WADA sensitization lecture at Ilora Baptist Grammar School, Ilora, Oyo state and LGA WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Beth-Root Model Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra state.

    “While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MAKIA, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, and Gombe Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.”

  • Mohbad: We responded to police enquiry since September 28, says NDLEA

    Mohbad: We responded to police enquiry since September 28, says NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has responded to an enquiry by the Lagos State Police Command on the alleged arrest and detention of the late artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka MohBad, since September 28.

     The agency’s assertion followed media enquiries on the claim by the command at a press conference on Friday that it was yet to get a response from the NDLEA on social media allegations bordering on alleged arrest and detention of the late artiste.

    Read Also: MohBad: We responded to police enquiry since September 28, says NDLEA

     Spokesman of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Saturday, said “the Agency will like to state that indeed its response was sent and received by the police since Thursday 28th September 2023.”

     Babafemi continued: “Indeed, to show the seriousness with which the Agency treated the issue, our formal response dated Thursday 28th September 2023 was sent by flight to Lagos, delivered and received by the police same Thursday 28th September.

    “The summary of our response is reproduced below for the benefit of the inquiring public:

     “We also heard the unsubstantiated allegation on social media that Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, a.k.a. MohBad was arrested and detained by NDLEA on the 24th of February 2022 and given a substance to drink.

     “In response to this allegation, we wish to state categorically that MohBad was never arrested neither was he ever detained in the custody of the NDLEA on the said date or any other date before or after.   “The foregoing being the case, the issue of giving him any substance to drink does not arise.”

     “A copy of the acknowledged letter is attached to this clarification.”

  • Navy hands over 27 bags of cannabis worth N35m to NDLEA

    Navy hands over 27 bags of cannabis worth N35m to NDLEA

    The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, Badagry, yesterday handed over 27 bags of cannabis sativa (marijuana) worth about N35 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

    Speaking during the handing over, the Commanding Officer, FOB Badagry, Navy Captain Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said: “On Friday, 29 September at about 7pm, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Badagry got an intelligence tip-off of suspected smuggling activities within their area of operations. The intelligence indicated that a boat was sighted offloading products suspected to be Cannabis Sativa at Pako Beach close to Ajido, seaside of Forward Operating Base Badagry Area of Operations”.

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    He said on sighting the naval operatives, the suspects fled, leaving behind the narcotics that were smuggled into the country from Port Norvo, adding that the surrounding communities were also raided, but no other products or suspects were found.