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NDLEA hails Tinubu’s support for anti-drug war

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has expressed the appreciation of officers and men of the anti-narcotic agency to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous support for the ongoing efforts to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Marwa stated this while fielding questions from journalists during the inspection of facilities at the NDLEA barracks, which he said is almost ready for commissioning in Yola Adamawa state.
According to him, “We thank God for the project, we appreciate the continuity in governance. President Buhari appreciated the issues surrounding the security and welfare of staff. They seize, arrest, prosecute and deal with the criminals, yet the criminals come back to them because they live among them. But now we have the barracks for our personnel. President Buhari approved it and commenced it, and now President Tinubu has continued with same zeal and drive, so we appreciate this element of concern towards the NDLEA.”
While commending the standard and quality of work being done at the barracks, he said “Consultants, and contractors have done very well, good quality, well monitored, best materials and design as you can see, and we are 95 per cent done. We hope that by the grace of Allah, before the middle of this year, we’ll fully launch this first phase.
“We are targeting initially the six geopolitical zones to have a barrack each, for equity and balance and in the succeeding years, we hope the succeeding government will continue in all the 36 state commands, Federal Capital Territory, and Special Area commands. Our officers are all excited and willing to do more because this is a testament to the good work that the officers have been doing that yielded this project and they are willing to do even more.”
The NDLEA boss also said the agency is equally committed to reducing the demand for illicit substances by combining forces with other stakeholders to raise awareness and address the root causes of substance abuse.
“In 2018, a Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse was set up, which I had the distinct honour of being the chairman. One of the major tasks that we had was to identify the root causes of drug abuse and trafficking and make recommendations which we did. In the process, we found that poverty is one of the key predisposing factors of drug use in all societies. It is important to note that it is not only Nigeria that has this problem, the whole world is facing it. So, in pursuing temporary relief, some people get into drugs.
“For this reason, I know for a fact that the president is determined to pull Nigerians out of poverty. And for the NDLEA and other institutions and stakeholders like the Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, etc, we are all combining efforts in drug demand reduction.”
He noted that the war against drug abuse is an all-encompassing one, which goes beyond the responsibility of only NDLEA.
“The media are in the forefront, the church is in the forefront, community leaders, Imams, clerics, educators, NGOs, traditional institutions, women and youth organizations; we all must collaborate with security agencies to stamp out drug abuse from this country.”
He hinted that in a matter of days, he would be briefing the nation about a major seizure and some arrests made as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug cartels still operating between Nigeria and other countries in Africa, Europe and America.
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Afe Babalola to withdraw defamation suit against Farotimi

Afe Babalola, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says he will withdraw the defamation suit filed against Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate.
In December, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and whisked to Ekiti.
Farotimi was remanded by the Ekiti state magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti for 21 days after he was accused of “criminally defaming” Babalola in a book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
He regained freedom on December 24, after being granted bail of N30 million by the court.
NAN reports that Babalola, who spoke at the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other first class traditional rulers at a midnight meeting, said he has agreed to withdraw the case.
He said he had received several letters as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians, including from ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and Matthew Kukah, the bishop of Sokoto diocese.
Babalola said he acquiesced to the traditional rulers’ entreaties because he has nothing to gain from Farotimi’s imprisonment.
The senior advocate assured the chiefs that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
Ogunwusi said Yoruba leaders and the traditional institution have been following the development keenly.
The monarch added that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola “can pardon his son, Farotimi”.
The Ooni of Ife also lauded Babalola for his integrity and urged him to remain steadfast.
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Wike makes U-turn on state police creation, says governors would abuse powers

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Nigeria does not have the institutional capacity for state policing.
The creation of state police has been on the front burner for years now, with many governors advocating for its implementation to enhance security within their domains.
Last year, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, announced that all 36 state governments had submitted their reports backing the creation of state police.
He said state policing would serve as a crucial step towards improving security across the country.
Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, Wike said the adoption of state or community policing would birth autocratic governors in several states.
“In Nigeria, what system do we run? Is Abuja different from Nigeria when you talk about the police? People have been recommending community policing and state police,” he said.
“Knowing where we are, and where we are from, if you allow that, so many people would not come out of their houses. So, I said let’s try it first and see how it works.
“But so many people said there’s no need to try, that we have seen that if they allow state policing today, nobody would oppose any state governor. It is either you would die for murder or for armed robbery. Our institutions are not such that are independent.”
The former governor said his previous support for state police does not necessarily mean it is still the right decision today.
“The mere fact that I supported state police [when I was governor], if I was wrong, I was wrong. If I was right, I was right,” he said.
“What we are saying is that our institutions are not strong to be independent of manipulation by the system.”
During his first term as governor, Wike assented to a bill establishing the neighbourhood safety corps.
Some of the functions of the corps included the detection of crime, arrest of offenders with or without a warrant, and bearing arms in the performance of their duties, among others.
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EFCC confirms killing of officer in Anambra, says personnel were on legitimate duty

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the killing of Aminu Salisu, an assistant superintendent officer (ASO), in Anambra.
Salisu was allegedly killed by Joshua Ikechukwu, a suspected internet fraudster, during an arrest operation in Anambra on Friday.
In a statement on Sunday, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said the late officer was killed while discharging a legitimate duty.
Oyewale said the suspect, who spotted investigators via closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras mounted at his doorstep, refused to open his door despite their “polite request for entrance.”
“Aminu Sahabi Salisu, assistant superintendent of the EFCC, alongside other investigators of the EFCC, were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of January 17,” the statement said.
“The operation was duly documented at the Anambra state command headquarters and area command of the Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.
“The operation was initially smooth sailing with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.
“However, Joshua Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed sighting them, declined to open his door for the investigators, who politely demanded entrance to his apartment.
“Defying all the introduction and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them and killed Salisu in the process and wounded another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment.”
The EFCC spokesperson said preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy.
He said two laptops, iPads, and several recording devices were recovered from his apartment, adding that though currently in police custody, the commission would bring him to trial.
Oyewale said the commission “viewed with concern irresponsible narratives on the fatal accident and faceless commentators supporting an alleged criminal”.
He added that the anti-graft agency also commiserated with the family of the slain officer and appreciated support from sister agencies and well-meaning individuals.
“It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz,” he said.
“More worrisome is the fact that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty.
“There is no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act. The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, commission, and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures on the death of the slain officer.
“The EFCC also wishes to alert the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security.
“Intelligence has shown that these criminals are carrying arms and are involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings, and other deadly acts.
“The public should not fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere ‘Yahoo boys and girls”.
“As for the EFCC, every subsequent attack on any of its officers will be met with the force of the law. The Commission will not fold its arms and allow any of its officers to be killed again in cold blood.
“As a law enforcement agency of repute, the EFCC is unrelenting in ridding the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption.
“While mourning the loss of its officer who paid the supreme price in the service of the nation, the Commission appreciates the invaluable support, condolences, and prompt response of sister agencies and well-meaning individuals standing shoulder to shoulder with it at this trying time.”