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Tag: NDLEA

  • Succession crisis hits NDLEA as senior officers reject acting chair

    Succession crisis hits NDLEA as senior officers reject acting chair

    A leadership crisis is brewing at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), following the exit of Ahmadu Giade, who spent 10 years as the agency’s chairman/chief executive.

    Some concerned NDLEA officers have, in a petition, rejected the appointment of the agency’s secretary, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, as acting chairman/chief executive.

    They said Mrs. Bode-George’s appointment “is unacceptable because she is “not an employee of the NDLEA”.

    The aggrieved senior officers noted that the situation “is breeding disaffection” in the 25-year old agency, urging “President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the appointment of one of the directors of NDLEA as the chairman/chief executive”.

    “It is interesting to know that both the chairman/chief executive and the secretary of the agency are appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief in what has been described as two key political appointees on consolidated salary. In view of the end of the tenure of Giade and vociferous clamour for a staff of the agency to take over leadership, it has become necessary to clarify who members of staff of the agency are,” the officers wrote.

    In the petition, titled: “Who Succeeds Ahmadu Giade in NDLEA After Ten Years in the Saddle”, the officers explained that the staff of the agency were those defined in Section 5(5) and (6) of the NDLEA Act, which spelt out terms and conditions of service of officers.

    “It is obvious from the above provisions that the chairman/chief executive and the agency secretary are not staff since their appointments are not in accordance with the terms and conditions of the service of the agency.

    “Thus, the clamour for a staff of the agency to take over the top job clearly excludes the secretary of the agency. This is more so, given the fact that Mrs. Roli Bode George, was appointed in October, 2014, as secretary without any law enforcement background,” the petition stated.

    They insisted that precedents in other national agencies showed that the NDLEA secretary was not in a suitable position to take over as the chairman/chief executive.

    “When Nuhu Ribadu was removed as the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, then director of Operations, was appointed as acting chairman.

    ‘’When Mrs. Farida Waziri was also removed as EFCC chairman, the director of Operation was again made to act as chairman pending appointment of a substantive chairman. On all these occasions, the EFCC also has a secretary,” it added.

    However, when contacted, the NDLEA spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said Giade’s decision to hand over to Mrs. Bode-George was in accordance with the law.

    He added that the petition was unfounded, and without any basis in law.

    “There is nothing wrong about handing over to the director-general. Ordinarily, the President should appoint the next chairman/chief executive, but since that has not been done yet, the DG is the next to the chairman in terms of hierarchy and is also the secretary to the board,” Ofoyeju said.

  • 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.

     

  • Disabled woman nabbed with Indian hemp

    Disabled woman nabbed with Indian hemp

    A disabled woman who gave her name as Patience Onisuru, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency with 10 bags of cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp.
    The suspect was nabbed along Utese-Okada road, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
    Patience aged 47 and mother of four said the substances were being conveyed to a state in the South-East.
    She said a bag was to be sold at N15,000 per bag.
    According to her, “I was introduced to this business when I did not have anything to do‎. The person said that he would buy one (bag) at N15,000 each.
    “I do not feel fine about my arrest. I beg for forgiveness. I will not try in again; this is my first time.”
    Others suspects paraded by the NDLEA in the state included Victor Okon, Osaro Uwaifo, Igelenya Dennis, ‎Ehimare Ikhalea, Osagie Ibhawese, Anakarizu Henry, Sunday Ineh, Frederick Nwose, Festus Ossai, Sunday Ohenhen and Obazu Ahigbe‎.
    State Commandant of the NDLEA, Wakawa Buba said the suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of a total of 13,498 kilograms of illicit drugs.
    Wakawa said 72 suspects were arrested in connection with the exhibits in six vehicles at different locations in Benin, the state capital.
    The commandant said the suspects were arrested between September and November 2015‎.
    His words, “The most popular drug of trafficking in this zone (South-South) is the cannabis sativa, which is locally called Igbo or Indian hemp. These drugs are planted very deep in the forest under rugged terrains, not accessible by road.
    “So when they harvest, they use these motorcycles  to bring them out closer to where they can use the vehicles to load and transport. We have made reasonable seizures,” he added.‎

     

  • NDLEA busts drug cartel at Enugu airport

    NDLEA busts drug cartel at Enugu airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a suspected drug trafficking cartel at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu.

    Two officers of the agency, Daniel Goska and Ndubuisi Ughor, who were indicted and are currently at large, had been summarily dismissed and declared wanted.

    Other members of the group include Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Dayson, a key member of the drug trafficking organization, Emmanuel Lucky Okorie, Operations Manager with Ethiopian Airline, Amaechi Henry, a supervisor, passenger services department of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc and Ezeugwu Jacob who is a ticket and baggage staff at the airport.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, while describing the mode of operation of the drug cartel as strange promised to adhere to global best practice in drug control. “No bad egg in the Agency will escape justice.

    Notwithstanding the strange way the cartel operates, I am pleased that it was exposed and ultimately dislodged. The Agency will continue to adopt superior drug control strategies in line with global best practice. This is one sweet victory over criminal groups.

    The NDLEA is committed to the eradication of narcotics from our country and will continue to look both inwards and outwards for subversive elements,” Giade stated.

    The NDLEA boss said that the two indicted officers of the agency, Daniel Goska and Ndubuisi Ughor who are currently at large had been summarily dismissed and that efforts are ongoing to arrest and prosecute them.

    He added that although drug barons are desperate, the agency is committed to the dismantling of drug trafficking organisations in the country.

    The activities of the group were exposed when narcotic officials aborted the exportation of 74.7kg of narcotic drug that tested positive for Ephedrine.

    The drug was packed in three bags. Two of the bags weighing 50.7kg were destined for Maputo, Mozambique, while the third bag weighing 24kg was destined for Johannesburg, South Africa. The 74.7kg of Ephedrine had been properly marked as exhibits and tendered as evidence before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that the drug cartel had infiltrated some members of the airport community including two NDLEA staff who are currently at large.

    Those indicted include Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Dayson, a key member of the drug trafficking organization, Emmanuel Lucky Okorie, Operations manager with Ethiopian Airline, Amaechi Henry, a supervisor, passenger services department of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc and Ezeugwu Jacob who is a ticket and baggage staff at the airport.

    Two staff of the NDLEA, Superintendent of Narcotics (SN) Daniel Goska and Chief Narcotic Agent (CNA) Ndubuisi Ughor has also been linked to the cartel. They absconded from duty as soon as the arrest was made.

    It was gathered from investigation that whenever the cartel has a consignment of drug, the airline operations manager will identify passengers on the flight whose bags are weighing less and tag the luggage in their names. Once this is done, they will contact their partners at the airport of final destination with the tag numbers to receive the consignments.

    These findings were further corroborated by the statements of the innocent passengers whose names were used to tag the bags containing the 74.7kg of Ephedrine. When invited for questioning, it was discovered that they had no knowledge of the bags tagged in their names.

    Meanwhile, the Operations Manager of Ethiopian Airline at the Enugu Airport, Mr. Emmanuel Lucky Okorie and three others, Amaechi Henry, Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Dayson and Ezeugwu Jacob, had been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Enugu in connection with the seizure.

    The accused persons were charged before Justice V. D. Agishi for unlawful possession, exportation and conspiracy to export 74.7kg of Ephedrine via Ethiopian Airline flight. They all pleaded not guilty to the three count charge and remanded in prison custody as the case was adjourned until November 30, 2015 for bail argument.

    In their statements, 47 year old Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Dayson, who hails from Ubahazu Amiri in Imo State, is a key member of the drug cartel. He had lived in Germany for five years and returned to Nigeria in June 2015.

    In his statement, Eddie said that, “I was not there when the bags were prepared. They brought the bags containing Ephedrine to me in my hotel room and I successfully took the bags to the airport where I was arrested.”

  • NDLEA uncovers drug cartel in Enugu Airport

    NDLEA uncovers drug cartel in Enugu Airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday said it has uncovered a suspected drug trafficking cartel at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the agency’s spokesperson in Lagos, Mr Mitchel Ofoyeju, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    According to the statement, two officers of the agency, Daniel Goska and Ndubuisi Ughor, who are indicted and currently at large, have been summarily dismissed and declared wanted.

    “Other suspected members of the group include Ifeanyichukwu Dayson, a key member of the drug trafficking organisation, and Emmanuel Okorie an Operations manager with Ethiopian Airline,’’ it stated.

    It said one Henry Amaechi, a Supervisor, Passenger Service Department of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc and Jacob Ezeugwu a ticket and baggage staff at the airport were among the suspects.

    The statement quoted the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, who described the mode of operation of the drug cartel as strange, as promising to adhere to global best practice in drug control.

    “No bad egg in the agency will escape justice. Notwithstanding the strange way the cartel operates, I am pleased that it was exposed and ultimately dislodged.

    “The Agency will continue to adopt superior drug control strategies in line with global best practice.

    “This is one sweet victory over criminal groups.

    “The NDLEA is committed to the eradication of narcotics from our country and will continue to look both inwards and outwards for subversive elements,” Giade stated.

    He also added that although drug barons were desperate, the agency was committed to dismantling of drug trafficking organisations in the country.

    The statement also stated that the activities of the group were exposed when narcotic officials aborted the exportation of 74.7kg of narcotic drug that tested positive for Ephedrine.

    “The drug was packed in three bags. Two of the bags weighing 50.7kg were destined for Maputo, Mozambique while the third bag weighing 24kg was destined for Johannesburg, South Africa.

    “The 74.7kg of Ephedrine had been properly marked as exhibits and tendered as evidence before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu.

    “It was gathered from investigation that whenever the cartel had a consignment of drug, the airline operations manager will identify passengers on the flight whose bags are weighing less and tag the luggage in their names.

    “Once this is done, they will contact their partners at the airport of final destination with the tag numbers to receive the consignments.

    “These findings were further corroborated by the statements of the innocent passengers whose names were used to tag the bags containing the 74.7kg of Ephedrine.

    “When invited for questioning, it was discovered that they had no knowledge of the bags tagged in their names,” the statement stated.

  • NDLEA finds N59m cocaine in whiskey packs

    NDLEA finds N59m cocaine in whiskey packs

    NATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have foiled plans by two men to import N59 million worth of hard drugs hidden in Irish whiskey packs and wooden frames.

    The wraps of powdery substance, which tested positive to cocaine, were intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The suspects are Michael Okwuma, 31, found with 3.400kg of cocaine hidden in wooden frames and James Nwajagu, caught with 3.240kg of cocaine in Irish whiskey packs.

    NDLEA Airport Commander Ahmadu Garba, in a statement narrated how the suspects were nabbed.

    “Okwuma took off from Guarulhos International Airport, São Paulo, Brazil in a South African Airways flight through Johannesburg to Lagos. Nwajagu also left Brazil in an Emirates flight through United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Lagos. Both suspects will soon be charged to court,” Garba said.

    Okwuma told investigators that he was given the drugs by a Nigerian who is like a father to him in Brazil.

    He said: “I live in São Paulo with my wife and child. I work in a supermarket but my salary is not sufficient to take care of my family. The man that gave me the drug is like a father to me. He used to assist me financially whenever I needed help. I told him I was home sick because for two years I have not visited Nigeria. He was the one that bought my ticket and gave me $3,000. I was very happy for the gesture. He also gave me a bag containing children clothes and wooden frames to take to Nigeria. When I got to Lagos, NDLEA officers opened the bag and found cocaine.”

    Nwajagu said he was told to bring a bag to Nigeria and be settled financially.

    “I was in my village in Anambra doing menial jobs to sustain myself. I came to Lagos on a short visit when I met an old friend. He was very nice to me because he used to give me money, buy me drinks and food. He told me to bring a bag from Brazil and that he will settle me financially to start my own business. That was how I travelled out of Nigeria. On arrival, the bag was searched and cocaine was found inside packs of Irish whiskey. I never knew I will end up this way,” he said.

  • AGF, NDLEA urge court to dismiss Kashamu’s suit

    AGF, NDLEA urge court to dismiss Kashamu’s suit

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a fundamental rights suit by Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had refused to disqualify himself from the case after being accused of likely bias by NDLEA, adjourned till November 18 for judgment.

    Kashamu is praying the court to restrain the Federal Government from seizing his property for alleged drug trafficking.

    He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining NDLEA and the AGF from taking possession of his belongings.

    Arguing the application yesterday, the senator’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, said Kashamu had been exonerated from charges of heroine importation into the United States of America.

    He said two United Kingdom courts also held that Kashamu had no case to answer, and that one of the courts held that he was mistaken for another person.

    Oluyede said it was on the basis of the same dismissed charges that the Federal Government made moves to seize his client’s property.

    He said: “The Federal High Court nullified the warrant of arrest. The respondents are still making moves to seize his property over the same issues over which he has been exonerated and for which the orders were made.

    “This action is not pursuing a right in property. It is seeking to protect the right to own property. We urge your Lordship to grant this application.”

    But counsel to the AGF, Oyin Koleoso, urged the court to dismiss the suit because Kashamu had no evidence to back his claims.

    He said: “Of all the property the applicant listed, there is nothing to link them with the applicant. No title documents. I urge the court to dismiss the application.”

    Kashamu said he learnt of moves by NDLEA and AGF to seize his property, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe, Lagos and hectares on Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.

    According to him, he acquired the property, which he said were worth N20billion, by dint of hard work and through his legitimate business.

    He said contrary to NDLEA’s alleged claim, the property were not proceeds of drug trafficking.

    Kashamu said right to own property as guaranteed by sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution would be breached if the respondents were not restrained.

  • AGF, NDLEA urge court to dismiss Kashamu’s suit

    AGF, NDLEA urge court to dismiss Kashamu’s suit

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Drug Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a fundamental rights suit filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had refused to disqualify himself from the case after being accused of likely bias by NDLEA, has adjourned to November 18 for judgment.

    Kashamu is praying the court to restrain the Federal Government from seizing his properties for alleged drug trafficking.

    He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining NDLEA and the AGF from taking possession of his belongings.

    Arguing the application on Wednesday, the senator’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, said Kashamu had been exonerated from charges of heroine importation into the United States.

    He said two United Kingdom Courts also held that Kashamu has no case to answer, and that one of the courts held that he was mistaken for another person.

    Ajibola said it was on the basis of the same dismissed charges that the Federal Government was making moves to seize his client’s properties.

    “The Federal High Court nullified the warrant of arrest. The respondents are still making moves to seize his properties over the same issues over which he has been exonerated and for which the orders were made.

    “This action is not pursuing a right in properties. It is seeking to protect the right to own properties. We urge your Lordship to grant this application,” Oluyede said.

    But counsel for the AGF, Oyin Koleoso, urged the court to dismiss the suit because Kashamu had no evidence to back his claims.

    “Of all the properties the applicant listed, there is nothing to link them with the applicant. No title documents. I urge the court to dismiss the application,” he said.

    Kashamu said he learnt of moves by NDLEA and AGF to seize his properties, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe and several hectares of land on Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.

     

     

  • Judge refuses to disqualify self in Kashamu’s case

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday refused to disqualify himself from adjudicating a suit filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    Kashamu is praying the court to restrain the Federal Government from seizing his property over drug trafficking allegations.

    He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation from taking possession of his property.

    Justice Buba had earlier restrained the NDLEA from arresting or extraditing Kashamu to the United States, where he is allegedly wanted.

    But NDLEA asked the judge to hands off the trial.‎ It said since Justice Buba, on June 23, reaffirmed a May 27 order by Justice Okon Abang of the same court stopping Kashamu’s arrest, he might not be fair in the case.

    The agency claimed the injunction amounted to preventing federal agencies from discharging their constitutional duties.

    NDLEA asked the judge to withdraw from the case on the basis that he might not reach a different conclusion in the fresh case having ruled in Kashamu’s favour once.

    According to NDLEA, the case file should be returned to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge.

    Refusing the application, Justice Buba said he would not shy away from deciding a case merely because of an unsubstantiated accusation of bias.‎ He dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

    Justice Buba said: “This application is part of the game of hide and seek between the parties before me who have been in and out of court. Some of the matters are on appeal.

    “The applicant failed woefully to point at any decision this court reached or point of law that it reached and is likely to reach in another one.”

    The judge said if any party is dissatisfied with any judgment, the right thing to do was to appeal, and not to accuse a judge of bias.

    “The Federal High Court is one. The judges are one. The applicant cannot pick and choose judges for their matters.

    “In sum, this court will not set aside its order made pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application, which is sui generis (unique.”

  • N20b suit: Kashamu, NDLEA get new date

    N20b suit: Kashamu, NDLEA get new date

    Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos will on November 10 rule on whether to withdraw from a suit filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    Kashamu is praying the court to restrain the Federal Government from seizing his property worth N20 billion for alleged drug trafficking.

    He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from taking possession of his property.

    Justice Buba earlier restrained the NDLEA from arresting or extraditing Kashamu to the United States of America, where he is allegedly wanted.

    But NDLEA asked the judge to hands off the case. It said since Justice Buba, on June 23, reaffirmed a May 27 order by Justice Okon Abang of the same court stopping Kashamu’s arrest, he might not be fair in the case.

    Its lawyer, Mr. J. N. Sunday, who asked the court to vacate the restraining order, claimed the injunction amounted to preventing federal agencies from discharging their constitutional duties.

    NDLEA asked the judge to withdraw from the case on the basis that he might not reach a different conclusion in the fresh case, having once ruled in Kashamu’s favour.

    According to NDLEA, the case file should be returned to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge.

    But the AGF, represented by Mr. Oyin Koleosho, filed a preliminary objection to the action.

    It said the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, which it described as a “tortuous act” that did not fall within Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

    Kashamu said he learnt of moves by NDLEA and AGF to seize his property, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe and several hectares of land on the Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.

    According to him, he acquired the property, which he said was worth N20 billion, by dint of hard work and through his legitimate business.

    He said contrary to NDLEA’s claim, the property were not proceeds of drug trafficking.

    Kashamu’s lawyer Mr. Ajibola Oluyede said his client’s rights to own property as guaranteed by Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution would be breached if the respondents were not perpetually restrained.

    Due to Justice Buba’s absence yesterday, a new date was fixed by his registrars for the ruling.