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Tag: NDLEA

  • Man sues NDLEA for son’s death

    A 62-year old man, Mr. Michael Ehigie, has sued the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged extra-judicial killing of his son, Uyi.

    Ehigie alleged that his son was shot on November 14, 2016 by NDLEA officials, who were patrolling Benin-Akure Road.

    He said his son was driving his commercial truck marked XC 638 RBC on the Benin-Akure Road when he was ordered to stop by the NDLEA officials from Ondo Division.

    Ehigie alleged that his son was shot without any cause.

    He said the NDLEA officials first rushed him to Ondo State Medical Science Hospital, but he was later taken to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure, where he died on November 24, 2016.

    Ehigie said NDLEA had offered automatic employment for any graduate from the family and payment of N1,168,250.00 being the amount incurred on medical bills, funeral and other miscellaneous expenses.

    He said the agency did not agree to the full terms of settlement.

    In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, Ehigie is seeking a “declaration that the seizure and continued detention of the deceased’s road worthy vehicle since November 14, 2016 is unlawful and unconstitutional.”

    He is asking for an order directing the NDLEA to release the deceased’s vehicle.

    Ehigie requested an order that he is entitled to special damages of N14,288,250.00 (Fourteen Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Eight

    Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira) and general damages of

    N660,000.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Million Naira).

    The case has been adjourned till January 30.

  • NDLEA holds 154 drug traffickers in Niger

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Niger Command, said yesterday that it arrested 154 drug traffickers, with 24 convictions between January and December.

    Commander Mrs. Sylvia Egwunwoke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the suspects were arrested in parts of the state.

    She said the seizures made by the command included 2,074 kg of cannabis sativa and 68kg of psychotropic substances.

    Read also: Police arraign businessman for alleged fraud

    Egwunwoke said 54 litres of liquid substances comprising cough syrups with codeine and injectables were seized from the peddlers during the period.

    She said the anti-drug agency also counselled 72 persons and rehabilitated 16 others into the society in 2018.

    The commander said the command had already taken the crusade against drug trafficking in the state to traditional rulers, mosques and churches.

    “We have put in place sensitive security measures to frustrate activities of illegal drug traders in the state,” she said.

    Egwunwoke explained that identified drug routes in the state had been placed on strict surveillance, while community leaders would be used to provide information on such peddlers, with a view to arresting and prosecuting them.

  • NDLEA arrests 200 suspected drug traffickers

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, has arrested 200 suspected drug traffickers and convicted 39 from January to December, 2018.

    Commander Mrs. Omolade Faboyede said yesterday in Ibadan that the convicts were sentenced to jail terms ranging from six months to 10 years.

    She said 5,593.426 kilogrames of illicit drugs were seized from the suspects, indicating a decrease from the 7,090.34 kilogrammes seized in 2017.

    Faboyede said the anti-drug agency also gave drug intervention to 102 persons, among whom eight have been rehabilitated and successfully integrated into the society.

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    “It should be noted that the reduction in the demand for drug in the state is as a result of the deliberate activities of the command.

    “Our enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse and trafficking in the state are yielding positive results as we reach out to all and sundry, including primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, private organisations and government establishments.”

    She advised the public to report suspicious movements to the authorities concerned, to enable them rid the society of crimes.

  • Man arraigned for allegedly aiding drug trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has charged one Afeez Alade before a Federal High Court Lagos for allegedly aiding the trafficking of a restricted narcotics called Ephedrine.

    The accused was arraigned before Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel on a two count-charge of conspiracy to export 25 kg of Ephedrine which is classified as a prohibited substance listed in the schedule of the NDLEA Act.

    The accused had previously pleaded guilty to the charges alongside some co-accused when they were arraigned sometime before the court, but after the conviction of his co-accused, he opted to change his plea.

    He pleaded not guilty on his re-arraignment.

    After his plea, the Prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, urged the court to issue a trial date, while the accused be remanded in prison.
    .
    In response, the Defence Counsel, Mr R. Abdulhameed, moved a bail application on behalf of the accused, urging the court to admit him to bail on liberal terms.

    In a short ruling, the court granted the accused bail in the sum of one million naira with one surety in like sum.

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    The judge directed that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below grade level 14.

    The court also held that the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and his particulars verified by the prosecutor within 14 days of submission.

    The court adjourned the case for trial until March 5 and March 6, 2019.

    According to the charge, the accused was said to have committed the offences on April 18 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He was accused of conspiring with one Omoyeni and Salaudeen, who worked at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NACHO), but are now convicts, to export 25 kg of the narcotics.

    The offences contravene the provisions of Section 24 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

  • NDLEA confiscates over 9607kg of illicit drugs

    The Kano State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said yesterday that it confiscated 9,607.72 kilogrammes of illicit drugs from January to date.

    The Commandant, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, who disclosed this in Kano while briefing reporters on the activities of the command this year, said the drugs approximated 10 tonnes of exhibits.

    He said the command intercepted 1,697.74 kilogrammes of cannabis, 27.7 grammes of cocaine and 10.9 grammes of heroin.

    “We also intercepted 1,760.08 kilogrammes of codeine, 5,886.45 kilogrammes of diazepam, 149.45 kilogrammes of pentazocine and 343.7 kilograms of rephynol.”

    Read also: NDLEA begins trial of 33-year-old suspected drug baron

    Abdul said the command secured the conviction of no fewer than 92 drug traffickers in the state during the period.

    He said at present, 55 cases of drug trafficking were pending, while two had been discharged.

    Abdul said so far, the command had arrested 502 suspects, 497 of whom are men, while five are women.

    He urged parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and all stakeholders to support the command in its fight against drug abuse.

    The commandant hailed the government for its efforts and support in the fight against the menace.

     

  • NDLEA confiscates over 9607 kg of illicit drugs in Kano

    The Kano State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said on Thursday that it confiscated  9,607.72 kilogrammes  of illicit drugs from January to date.

    The Commandant, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul who disclosed this in Kano while briefing journalists on the activities of the command this year, said the confiscated drugs approximated 10 tonnes of exhibits.

    Abdul said that the command intercepted 1,697.74 kilogrammes of cannabis, 27.7 grammes of cocaine and 10.9 grammes of heroin.

    “We also intercepted 1,760.08 kilogrammes of codein, 5,886.45 kilogrammes of diazepam 149.45 kilogrammes of Pentazocine  and 343.7 kilograms of Rephynol,’’ he said.

    Read Also:NDLEA freezes suspected Tramadol importer’s accounts

     

    He said the command also secured the conviction of no fewer than 92 drug traffickers in the state during the period.

    The commandant said at present, 55 cases of drug trafficking were still pending while two had been discharged.

    Abdul said so far, the command had arrested 502 suspects 497 of whom are male while five are female.

    He called on parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and all stakeholders to continue to give the necessary support to the command in its fight against drug abuse.

    The commandant also commended the state government for all its efforts and support in the fight against the menace in the state.

  • Ganduje task civil society groups on fight against drug abuse

    Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has asked civil society organisations in the country to get involved in the fight against drug abuse which has been on the increase in recent times.

    Ganduje who spoke through his deputy, Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna while receiving an award of commendation for consistency in people friendly policies from the Civil Liberties Organisation said government alone should not be left to carry on with the fight, stressing that credible civil society group should get involved in the fight.

    The Governor lamented the involvement of women of women in the sale of hard drugs to young Nigerians, adding that it is unfortunate that those involved in drug abuse are charged to court, they find their way back into society the following day.

    He said: “There is the need for human right organisations to get involved in the fight against drug abuse. The human rights community in the country will have to do something about this social vices and not only on issues pertaining government. We should do something because it has to do with the welfare of our people because that is what these organisations are being formed to tackle.

    “When the Commandant of the NDLEA in Kano spoke, recently, I was touched when he said that the people selling those drugs are women. It meant that women are deeply involved in this issue of drug abuse. It is unfortunate that when you arrest these people and take them to court, you find them roaming the streets the following day.

    “Government alone cannot fight this scourge. The human rights community has to do something because until we all get involved, these issues will not go away.

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    “There are other issues too that the human rights community should get involved in and not just allow government to be the sole decider. Organisations like this that are credible and has served humanity for long should get involved.

    “The other area is in the area of funding education. Government alone cannot fund education and there is a growing sentiment especially in the area of contribution to PTA and people now feels that government in commercializing education.”

    He said the award to him has come to stay and will not do anything that will make you withdraw the award, adding that he was ready to collaborate with the organization in all areas.

    In his remark, President of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Igho Akeregha said that the Organisation has been monitoring the activities of the Kano state government for the past two years and were convinced that he has found the state remaining consistent in its policies that are people-friendly.

    Akeregha said that the decision to award the Governor was in pursuant of CLO’s Democracy and Governance mandate where the Organisation examines governance at the local, state and national levels, pointing out that this was the first time the Organisation was giving such recognition to anybody in the Pu pic service.

    He said: “It is important to mention that the CLO was founded on October 15, 1987 with clear mandate to pursue democratic advocacy, human rights monitoring and education, gender rights, police and penal reforms, pro-bono litigation, documentation and research.

    “Indeed, over the years, the Organisation has positively discharged this mandate culminating in the return to democracy in 1999. The role, the CLO played in finally consigning the military to the barracks and keeping them out of public governance is not only legendary but well documented.

    “In the last five years, the CLO has continuously reviewed its operations and strategies to make it more dynamic and adaptive to the dynamics of modern democracy. To this end, the Organisation is engaging democracy stakeholders and holding them more accountable to the people.

    “Those who have utilized public offices to the benefit of citizens will now be commended while political demagogues and profiteers are to be named and shamed. We regularly evaluate democracy deliverable using international benchmarks as measurement.

    “The CLO has beamed its focus on Kano state in the last two years and monitored the progress being made by the state government in Internationally stipulated MDGs and SDGs and found the state remaining consistent in its policies that are people-friendly.

    “Therefore, the state emerged as most considered, given its size and population in key deliverables in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, justice sector reform, peace and security.

    “The Board therefore chose to recognize the leadership of the state with a Certificate of Good Public Service as a way of encouraging the state government and placing it on the radar of progressing states in Nigeria.”

    He reminded the governor that it may be forced to withdraw the award should there be observable lapses and drawbacks after this honour in defense of its best tradition of trust and credibility.

  • NDLEA begins trial of 33-year-old suspected drug baron

    The trial of 33-year-old Vincent Amago, who is accused of cultivating Indian hemp in a large farm, commenced on Wednesday at a Jos Federal High Court.

    It was reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the arraignment of the defendant, told the court that he was caught with 1,351 Kgs of Canniva Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.

    The NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Mr Bundi Suleiman, had told the court that operatives of the agency arrested the defendant on Nov. 29, 2017, at his residence at Kumbul village in Richa District of Bokkos Local Government of Plateau.

    According to Suleiman, the offence contravenes Section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.

    The defendant had denied committing the offence and was granted bail by the court.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Suleiman told the court that he had two witnesses ready to testify in the case.

    Led in evidence by Suleiman, Mr John Joshua, prosecution witness 1, told the court that he arrested the defendant on Nov. 29, 2017.

    Joshua told the court that he and his colleague, Mr Michael Yelleng, in the company of military officers of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), on information, arrested the defendant at Kumbul village in Richa District of Bokkos.

    “On that fateful day, we went to the residence of the accused; when we knocked on the door, he opened it for us and we told him of our mission.

    Read Also: Drug barons kill informant in Edo

    “To our utmost surprise, his entire house was like a store; it was filled with substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

    “We arrested him and packed so much quantity into our vehicles, but we had to leave some behind because the vehicles were filled up with no space to carry more, ’’ Joshua claimed.

    The witness said that the quantity they packed weighed 768Kg, and when tested, it was certified to be Indian hemp.

    “We again went back to his residence and packed the remaining substances and they weighed 583Kg; we also tested the substances and found them to be Indian hemp.’’

    Yelleng, another witness, also testified and corroborated the claims by the first witness.

    The prosecution then sought for an adjournment to call more witnesses after the defence counsel, Mr A. Shaddrach, had cross-examined the two prosecution witnesses.

    Justice Dorcas Agishi thereafter adjourned the case to Dec. 21, for continuation of hearing.

  • NDLEA uncovers 12 containers with 340m Tramadol tablets

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered 340 million Tramadol tablets in 12 containers at the Apapa port in Lagos.

    Head of Public Affairs of the agency, Mr Jonah Achema, stated this in a statement yesterday.

    Achema said the tablets which were in various dosages ranging from 120 milligrams to 250 milligrams were recovered from 12 containers in the ongoing search in Apapa port.

    He said the containers were on the watch-list of NDLEA since November, 2017 and were brought to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for search based on the agency’s reasonable suspicion of the containers containing tramadol.

    He stated that the NCS on Wednesday dropped 28 of 62 containers slated for search, among which 12 of them were been found to contain tramadol.

    “The search is still ongoing.

    “Tramadol is a pharmaceutical drug which has been subject of abuse by the populace.

    “In one single operation in November last year, the agency intercepted 160 million tablets of tramadol at the Apapa port which ranged from 220 to 250 milligrams.

    “They were imported from India using false documents in the name of an unregistered company,” Achema said.

    According to Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd), Chairman, NDLEA, it is doubtful that this influx of Tramadol is for legitimate use.

    “Tramadol, which is a derivative of Opiate is for post-surgery application but even if everybody in Nigeria undergoes surgery every year, we do not need the quantity that enters our country.

    “It only suggests their diversion for illicit use,” he said.

  • NDLEA freezes suspected Tramadol importer’s accounts

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has frozen bank accounts belonging to a suspected drug trafficker, Eze Remigus Rapuruchukwu.

    The agency arraigned him at the Federal High Court in Lagos along with his companies, Chart Agency Ltd, Albrichris Impex Ltd as well as Emordi Collins and Emmanuel Ifebighi.

    They were charged with seven counts of conspiracy and illegal importation of Tramadol.

    NDLEA alleged that they operated a drug trafficking organisation between 2010 and last year and unlawfully imported 19 containers of the regulated drug.

    Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain.

    While Rapuruchukwu, his companies and Collins were alleged to have illegally imported the drug, Ifebighi was alleged to have unlawfully removed the seized 19 containers loaded with Tramadol from Apapa Seaport.

    The alleged offence is contrary to the United Nations Single Convention on Drugs 1961 and its Protocol and the Convention against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance 1989, punishable under sections 11(a), 14(b), 16, 19, and 20(2) of the NDLEA Act of 2004.

    The NDLEA had placed a no-debit order on Rapuruchukwu’s accounts.

    But his lawyer, Mr. Collins Ogbonna, urged the court to de-freeze the accounts.

    He said it was contemptuous of the agency to freeze the accounts, as a court had earlier lifted the order.

    But NDLEA lawyer Mr. Lambert Nor said the restriction was placed on the accounts due to fresh illicit cash flow into them.

    He said the new funds were not covered by any discharge order, adding that no order of the court precludes the NDLEA from executing its statutory mandate by going after other suspected drug money of the defendant/applicant.

    Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned till December 11 for ruling.