The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano has proposed a mandatory drug test for prospective couples as part of measures to reduce drug abuse in the state.

The NDLEA Commander in Kano, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Thursday.

“The agency has introduced the Drug Integrity Test Initiative anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian,” he said.

Idris-Ahmad said the drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug abuse and early detection of individuals and couples’ status of drug use for appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.

He said the proposed law for the test became necessary to address the high rate of marriage breakdowns and reduce drug abuse among married couples in the state.

“Investigations have shown that one spouse often introduces the other to drugs after marriage and their children, hindering efforts to combat drug abuse”.

He called on the Kano State House of Assembly to enact a law requiring drug tests before marriage.

The commander appealed to women, youths and the general public to shun drug abuse and work together to move the state and nation forward.

“The test initiative approach seeks to tackle drug abuse at its roots, promoting a healthier and more sustainable society” Idris-Ahmad added.

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the closure of two companies linked to James Nolan, a British national, facing trial over his involvement in the Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) fraud.

In two separate judgments delivered on Wednesday, Donatus Okorowo, the presiding judge, held that the two companies were found guilty of the money laundering offences.

Consequently, Okorowo ordered that the companies be wound up and their assets be forfeited to the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Nolan in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022 as the first and second defendants.

In the sister case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2022, the commission is also prosecuting Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd. and Corrado Fantoli as the first and second defendants, respectively.

Fantoli, also a foreigner and an associate of Nolan, was one of the suspects behind the alleged $9.6 billion P&ID fraud.

The suspect said to be at large alongside the company, was arraigned in absentia on November 25, 2022, on an eight-count money laundering charge.

He was neither present in court nor represented by a lawyer when they were arraigned.

The court declared him wanted and ordered his arrest anywhere he was sighted after an application by the EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga.

Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd. and Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited are two of the over 30 companies associated with the $9.6 billion P&ID scam.

Meanwhile, Nolan is standing trial on different charges before different judges.

In September 2022, a federal high court in Abuja revoked his bail and issued a bench warrant for Nolan’s arrest after he failed to appear in court.

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, has ordered the expansion of the operations of the national cybercrime centre to existing force criminal investigations department (FCID) annex offices.

The select FCID annex offices are in Lagos, Kaduna, Gombe, and Enugu states.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) national cybercrime centre is the police unit established to combat cybercrimes in the country.

The cybercrime centre was only domiciled in Abuja. Persons who allegedly violated the Cybercrimes Act are often taken to Abuja for questioning.

In a statement on Monday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the directive means that the centre will now have operational offices at the FCID annex in the aforementioned states.

Adejobi said the move will “help in professionally coordinating and monitoring smooth investigations of cyber-related infractions reported to the police”.

“Following the recent upsurge in the creation and circulation of misinformative and dis-informative materials and other cyber-related crimes, capable of causing a breakdown of law and order and attempting to discredit the country, using the various social media platforms, it has become expedient to take proactive and strategic steps to nip this trend in the bud in order to prevent damage to the peaceful coexistence of well-meaning citizens and residents of our great country,” the statement reads.

“To this end, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered the expansion of the activities of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) to the existing Force Criminal Investigations Department Annex offices to facilitate the efficient handling of matters related to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.”

Some analysts have criticised the police for allegedly hiding under the Cybercrimes Act to clamp down on journalists and activists.