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Tag: NDLEA

  • We won’t take steps against Kashamu, NDLEA tells court

    THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday that it would not take steps yet on issues relating to the alleged request for the extradition of Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States (U.S.) for trial on drug-related offences.

    A lawyer and senior official of NDLEA, Mike Kassa, gave the assurance at the resumption of proceedings before a Federal High Court in Abuja in a case filed against the agency and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Kashamu on the issue.

    Kassa told the court that contrary to Kashamu’s claim  that the defendants were plotting to arrest and extradite him to the U.S.,  the NDLEA has agreed to abide by an order made on June 5, this year, by Justice Babatunde Quadri (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja), ordering parties in a similar suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.

    Kassa’s intervention was informed by the apprehension expressed by Kashamu’s lawyer, J. O. Odubela (SAN), who told the court that there were moves to apprehend his client and extradite him to the U.S.

    Odubela prayed the court to restrain the defendants, particularly NDLEA, from arresting  his client since he has a pending case for the enforcement of his  fundamental rights.

    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, said making such an order now would amount to him overruling himself having declined, at the last date (May 30, this year) to grant a similar interim order sought by the applicant.

    Following the judge’s pronouncement, Odubela proceeded to urge the judge to ask the defendants to give an undertaking not to take any steps against his client, including arresting or extraditing him while the case was pending.

    It was at that point that the lawyer to NDLEA stood up and informed the court that his client was not making any move to either arrest or extradite Kashamu as being claimed by the applicant’s lawyer.

    The lawyer said his client has complied with the order made by another judge of the same Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering parties in a similar case to maintain status quo pending its determination.

    Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned to October 18 to enable defendants respond to the applicant’s originating summons.

    Kashamu is, in the originating summons, praying the court to among others, restrain the defendants from giving effect to their alleged plot to arrest and extradite him to the U.S.

    It is part of his contention that the issue has been resolved by many court pronouncements that have exonerated him.

  • Tension mounts in Pankshin as NDLEA attempts to arrest drug suspect

    Tension was high in Pankshin, Plateau on Monday when officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shot guns sporadically in the air while chasing a drug suspect in a market.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the people, on hearing gunshots, scampered for safety with several of them injured while properties were destroyed.

    Some of the traders, who ran out into the streets, were knocked down by moving vehicles.

    It was, however, gathered that the suspect eventually disappeared within the market.

    A witness, Mrs Sarah Gofwen, told NAN that the officials of the NDLEA were hotly chasing a drug suspect, who ran into the market, to escape arrest.

    “When the suspect ran into the market, they (officials) went after him in the crowd but shot their guns into the air to scare away people who might prevent them from arresting the suspect.

    “It was at that point that the marketers took to their heels, suspecting that it was an attack on the town by gunmen or herdsmen, ’’ she narrated.

    Mr John Danjuma, a motorist, said, “If it were not for the mercies of God, some people would have gotten killed by fast moving vehicles drivers, who were also on the run for escape.’’

    Responding, Mrs Naomi Golmwen, Management Committee Chairman of Pankshin Council, described the situation as “very unfortunate’’ as it disrupted activities in the market.

    She advised the NDLEA officials to be more careful in executing their lawful duties, not to cause harm and destruction of wares of innocent marketers and buyers.

    Contacted, the Plateau Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Mathias Tyopev, confirmed the incident, adding that there was no live lost.

    Acccoding to him,  those who sustained injuries have been taken to the Pankshin General Hospital for treatment.

    Tyopev called on the people to remain calm and go about their normal duties since the problem was between NDLEA and drug suspects in the town. (NAN)

  • Drug abuse: NDLEA begs Plateau to establish rehabilitation centre

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called on the Plateau Government to establish a rehabilitation centre for drugs addicts in the state.

    Mr Ibrahim Braji, the state NDLEA Commander, made the appeal during an interview with our reporter on Monday in Jos.

    Braji said there was urgent need for the government to establish a rehabilitation centre or expand the already existing NDLEA mini rehabilitation and counselling centre to full capacity.

    He pointed out that the establishment of a government owned rehabilitation centre would provide adequate accommodation for the growing number of drug dependent persons in the state.

    He said the proposed centre would also help meet the growing needs of many people who are seeking rehabilitation and counselling services, but could not because of financial constraints.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests 123 suspects in Ondo

    According to him, the charges at the government owned rehabilitation centre will be affordable and accessible.

    Braji also advised governments at all levels to incorporate the treatment of drug dependent cases at all levels of healthcare to alleviate the plight of drug victims.

    He assured that the agency would continue to address issues of drug peddling and abuse to reduce menace to the barest level in the state.

  • Illicit drugs: NDLEA to establish outpost in Aba market

    The Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced its intention to establish an outpost of the agency in one of the major markets (Ahia Ohuru) in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    Speaking with our reporter at the command’s headquarters in Aba, Mr. Bamidele Akingbade said that the essence of the outpost which would be located opposite the market was to checkmate activities of drug addicts who have turned some part of the market into their habitat.

    Read Also:Extradition: Court orders AGF, NDLEA not to take steps against Kashamu

    According to Akingbade, the drug addicts took over a part of the market where there are uncompleted buildings and because of the loneliness of the area, the hoodlums took advantage of it to be committing all manner of crime such as snatching of people’s bags, mobile phones, money, etc.

    This, the NDLEA boss said prompted raiding of the area with the assistance of personnel of other sister agencies where several arrests were made with several items including cannabis were seized.

    The NDLEA boss further disclosed that the escaped members of the group reunited at the same spot to continue raping victims, snatching phones and money from innocent traders and visitors.

    He disclosed that the establishment of an outpost with their personnel stationed at the area which they are doing with the support of the leadership of the market, it would help to ensure that the hoodlums doesn’t return there and as a result, check against crime rate.

    He stated that the agency though facing logistics challenges was committed in ensuring that the rate of consumption and sales of illicit drugs in the state was reduced to minimum level.

  • NDLEA arrests 123 suspects in Ondo

    The Ondo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it arrested 123 suspected drug offenders between January and this month.

    The agency’s state commander, Haruna Gagara, who spoke Akure, the state capital, said the suspects comprised 113 men and 10 women.

    He said 11 male defendants were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.

    Gagara said the seizure of 14,247.16 kilogrammes of drugs and psychotropic substance comprised 13,916.158 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp), 2.9 grammes of cocaine, 3.2 grammes of heroine, 8.65 kilogrammes of tramadol and 333.75 litres of skuchies, weighing 322.kilogrammes.

    The NDLEA commandant said four vehicles and two houses used for transportation and storage of illicit drugs were seized.

    According to him, the seizures will be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He said: “Over 120 hectares of the illicit farms were destroyed within the period under review and efforts are on top gear to destroy the rest before the criminals harvest them.”

  • NDLEA alerts Nigerians to high inflow of Tramadol

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday said Nigeria might face a drug abuse epidemic due to increasing influx of Tramadol into the country.

    Mr Garba Ahmadu, the NDLEA Commander, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, gave the warning at an event to mark the “UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” in Lagos.

    Ahmadu said that the quantity of Tramadol coming into the country was of high volume because traffickers were bringing a lot of it, apart from other drugs such as Methamphetamine and Ephedrine.

    He said that due to the vigilance of NDLEA at the Lagos Airport, a lot of departures from Nigeria divert to other West African countries, whenever they were coming to the country.

    “If you look at the manifest so far, you will see a lot of departures from Nigeria; but somehow, when they are coming back, you see them diverting to most West African countries.

    “There is an upsurge in the quantity of drug seizure, because if you look at what we have been able to arrest in 2017, it is a kind of unprecedented in the last 10 years in terms of quantity.

    “Again, if you look at this year, we have almost tripled what we have been able to do; what is surprising about this thing is the quantity of Tramadol coming into the country”.

    “The volume is much, because they are bringing a lot of it, apart from other drugs.

    “There are several upsurge too of either inward or outward trafficking, mostly outward trafficking of Methamphetamine and Ephedrine.

    “These are things that are very clear and there is a growing increase in trafficking of Methamphetamine, Ephedrine and Tramadol,” Ahmadu added.

    According to him, the command has made several arrests in connection with the drug importation which has been very encouraging.

    He noted that the theme of 2018 event, “Listen First” was apt, because listening to children and youth was the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. (NAN)

  • ABCON, NDLEA tackle money laundering

    The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) and the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will be partnering to fight money laundering and drug trafficking.

    Speaking during a visit by NDLEA team to ABCON Secretariat in Lagos, ABCON President Aminu Gwadabe said that the association will work with NDLEA to organise sensitisation workshops for bureau de change (BDCs) to educate members on ways of fighting the menace.

    “Part of our role is ensuring compliance and one of our challenges is the vulnerability of BDCs. So, we will keep training our members on issues like customer identification as required under Know Your Customer’ (KYC) principle. We consider it important that we know our customers. One the reasons why BDCs are vulnerable is because the proceeds of drugs is huge, drug business is in billions of dollars and we deal in dollars, hence we are very vulnerable,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “The perpetrators who have this proceed can run into our offices and that is why our members really need to provide information that will help the agency to trace them. So, we will partner with the NDLEA to train our members on those things they need to watch out for in order to identify suspicious transactions”.

    Gwadabe noted that empowering BDCs is imperative given the critical role of the industry in the economy. He noted that in addition to providing retail foreign exchange services to travellers, BDCs help in achieving foreign exchange stability, while the industry provide jobs for about 16,000 Nigerians.

    Leader of the NDLEA delegation, Assistant Director, Musa Maina, said that though BDCs are under the regulation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), their  activities have a bearing on the job of the NDLEA, adding that is the rationale for the visit.

    He said that the agency will work with ABCON to educate BDCs on certain obligations which have bearing on the war against drug trafficking and money laundering. He said one of these obligations is record keeping.

    He said drug traffickers in their efforts to launder the proceeds of their crimes operates in cash, and they usually avoid businesses that keep meticulous records and documents of transactions, while preferring businesses that deals in cash and does not keep record of transactions.

  • Extradition: Court orders AGF, NDLEA not to take steps against Kashamu

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) not to take any further steps in their alleged renewed plot to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States (U.S.).

    Justice Babatunde Quadri gave the order yesterday while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Kashamu, which was argued by his lawyer, J. O. Odubela (SAN).

    Justice Quadri particularly ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by Kashamu.

    The judge also granted the applicant leave to serve processes in relation to the suit, including the originating summons on NDLEA outside the jurisdiction of the court at 4 Shaw Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Odubela had, while arguing the application, said his client resorted to seeking the court’s protection upon being informed that the respondents have renewed plans to extradite his client to the U.S.

    He said the applicant has been able to establish that, if the court did not intervene and protect him, by restraining the defendants from abducting, arresting or detaining him with the intention to extradite him, his rights would have been breached before the hearing of his substantive suit.

    Odubela added: “We have showed that the applicant had even been tried in England and exonerated. Our contention is whether, in view of the judgment of the court in England, the Federal Government or any of its agencies can still request the U.S. to file a fresh request for the extradition of the applicant.”

    Upon enquiry from the court, Odubela said the Court of Appeal gave judgment on May 4 this year and reversed the judgment by the Federal High Court, Lagos, prohibiting Kashamu’s extradition.

    He said the Court of Appeal, in reversing the judgement, noted that there was no evidence that the AGF and NDLEA were taking steps to effect his extradition as at when the judgment was given.

    Odubela added: “We have also appealed to the Supreme Court and filed a motion for injunction. Despite that, they (the defendants) have gone ahead to tell the U.S. government that the case on the matter is over and that they can make fresh request for his extradition.”

    He said now, there are actual evidence of steps being taken by the defendants to extradite the applicant.

    Odubela tendered a certified true copy of Punch newspaper of May 13, where it was reported that Federal Government has demanded for fresh U.S. request for the applicant’s extradition.

    He added that two days after the judgment of the Appeal Court, an official of the NDLEA, Shehu Abubakar, told his client that plans were at advance stage to have him arrested and taken to the U.S. within a week.

    Justice Quadri ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit in line with the doctrine of lis pendens.

    He adjourned to September 24 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

     

     

  • Extradition: Court orders AGF, NDLEA not to take steps against Kashamu

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) not to take any further steps in their alleged renewed plot to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States.

    Justice Babatunde Quadri gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Kashamu through his lawyer, J. O. Odubela (SAN).

    Justice Quadri particularly ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/530/18 filed by Kashamu.

    The judge also granted the applicant leave to serve processes in relation to the suit, including the originating summons on NDLEA outside the jurisdiction of the court at 4 Shaw Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Odubela said Kashamu decided to seek the court’s protection after he was informed that the respondents have renewed plans to extradite him to the U.S.

    He said the applicant has been able to establish that if the court did not intervene and protect him by restraining the defendants from abducting, arresting or detaining him with the intention to extradite him, his rights would have been breached before the hearing of the substantive suit.

     

  • NDLEA destroys 7.5 hectares of Indian hemp farm

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) destroyed a 7.5-hectare cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) farm in Edo State between January and April, it was learnt.

    It said it seized over 14,000 kilogrammes of drugs during the period.

    Commander Buba Wakawa,   who congratulated officers of the Okada Area Command for apprehending drug traffickers, said the command caught a 38-year-old man and father of two, Ifa Bello, with sacks of dried weeds weighing 24 kilogrammes, which tested positive for cannabis sativa.

    He said the suspect was arrested at Egbeta village in Ovia North East Local Government.

    The commander said a raid on a cannabis farmhouse at Uyere forest, Ovia North East, led to the recovery of 11 sacks of cannabis.

    He said the sacks weighed 130 kilogrammes.

    Wakawa said: “I congratulate officers of the command for the arrest and seizures. We are making progress and will not relent until the state is free from the menace of illicit drugs.”