– US Govt, UNODC commend partnership, promise more support for drug war
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has said that the upgrade of the forensic laboratory of the Agency by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will enhance operational standard and optimal performance of NDLEA in its renewed fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Marwa who stated this at the commissioning of the Agency’s newly refurbished forensic laboratory in Lagos on Wednesday 10th January said “With this facility, we are now anticipating the provision of state-of-the-art analytical equipment, which will enhance optimal performance in line with standard operational laboratory procedures and best practices, which in turn will enhance evidence-based analytical processes in our forensic analysis.” The project was facilitated by INL and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC.
The NDLEA boss who was represented at the event by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi emphasized the importance of modern forensic laboratories to the successful fight against illicit drugs in the country. According to him, “Everyone who knows how pivotal a forensic laboratory is to drug investigations will share my sentiment. The forensic laboratory plays a critical role in the identification of drug exhibits, in the investigation of illicit drug manufacturing and the dismantling of clandestine laboratories. Ultimately, it reinforces the criminal justice system.
“Given the current situation of illicit drugs in Nigeria, a forensic laboratory is sine qua non for any meaningful effort to stymie the problem. The reason is obvious. In three decades, Nigeria has grown from a transit country to a country that produces a farrago of new psychoactive substances, NPS, and a place where there is proliferation of clandestine laboratories, of which we have discovered and dismantled over 23.
“Over the last three years that I have been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, there have been seizures of record quantities of illicit drugs, approximately 7, 590 tons. What is remarkable about these seizures is that they include not only substances already under national and international control but also an unexpectedly high number of new psychoactive substances and combinations of illicit drugs prepared by chemists working in clandestine laboratories. These substances, constituting over 10,000 exhibits, found their way to the forensic laboratory for confirmatory analysis and identification.
“The poor infrastructure of our forensic laboratory translated into inadequacy to cope with the volume of work on ground. It is against this backdrop that INL intervened to sponsor the upgrading of the laboratory to a global standard and expand its capacity to cope with the challenging dynamics inherent in the analysis of new psychoactive substances, amphetamine-type stimulants, synthetic cannabinoids, and fentanyl opioids.”
Marwa expressed appreciation to the US government for approving funding for the project, which encompasses: strengthening the forensic and chemical analysis capacity of NDLEA; upgrading the interrogation room and provision of an e-library for prosecution. He equally commended the UNODC for painstaking implementation of the project.
He said some other benefits of the project so far include: the training of 20 NDLEA forensic analysts on drug identification and safe handling of synthetic opioids; provision of safety bags consisting of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); supply of 20 test kits for drugs and precursor chemicals for field identification; supply of laptops, desktop computer, and other ICT accessories among others.
Speaking at the event, U.S. Consul General Will Stevens highlighted the ongoing security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria. His words: “The global opioid crisis calls for a coordinated, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary global response. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to modernize this chemical forensic laboratory in Lagos. This $500,000 investment will ensure our Nigerian partners have the state-of-the-art equipment and training needed to identify and analyze suspicious substances and evidence collected from crime scenes and suspects. We appreciate Nigeria’s strong regional leadership and commitment to work with us to combat this growing threat.”
In his remarks, Danilo Campisi, the UNODC Deputy Country Representative, commended the partnership with the United States INL and NDLEA, which he said “continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of these types of interventions, implemented by organisations like UNODC.”
“In the course of the past 12 months of implementing the first phase of this project, which primarily consisted of the provision of technical assistance, equipment and capacity building”, he stated adding that the next phase of the project, which will be implemented over the course of the next 12 months “is an opportunity to consolidate the interventions which we commenced in the first phase and we look forward to continuing the tripartite partnership between UNODC, the US Government and NDLEA ensuring that criminal drug trafficking networks are dismantled and brought to justice.”
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Wednesday 10th January 2024
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STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS HIS EMINENCE, SHEIKH ABDUL-HAFEEZ ASHAMU ABOU, OFR
It is with a heavy heart that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives the news of the passing of His Eminence, Sheikh Abdul-Hafeez Aṣhamu Abou, Baba Adinni of Lagos and Chairman of the Executive Council of Lagos Central Mosque.
President Tinubu condoles with Baba’s family, the Muslim community in Lagos, as well as the Lagos State Government over this very sad loss.
The President celebrates the inspiring legacy of service, duty, and sacrifice of Baba, who passed away at 100 years old, noting his extraordinary contributions to the Muslim Ummah, Lagos State, and beyond.
“Baba dedicated his life to the service of the people. He lived a full life guided by the highest and noblest moral codes. He was a fine example for all of us. He will be sorely missed. We should take solace in Baba’s legacy and uphold his values of honesty, dignity, and sacrifice,” the President says.
President Tinubu prays that Almighty Allah grant Baba the highest station in Al-Jannah Firdaus.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
January 10, 2024
Anti-Corruption Fight: ICPC, EFCC meet to Strengthen Working Relationship
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has taken an important step in strengthening the nation’s fight against corruption by initiating a high-level meeting with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demonstrating ICPC’s commitment to fighting corruption through enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of the EFCC on Tuesday, had in attendance the Chairmen and management staff of the two anti-graft agencies and was aimed to deepen mutual cooperation and synergize efforts for greater impact in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive, and discuss other areas of collaborations.
In his remarks, the Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN stated that the visit to the EFCC was a show of commitment to the existing relationship between the two agencies.
He expressed the readiness of ICPC, under his leadership to provide the needed support and cooperation in the interest of eradicating corruption in Nigeria.
“It is important for us to work together, and we cannot do this without a good relationship. That’s why I think I need to extend this hand of friendship to the EFCC so that we can effectively partner in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“I am aware that there’s an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the EFCC and ICPC and I’m willing and ready to partner whenever there’s any issue of interest in the fight against corruption.
“I’ll be reaching out to my brother and Chairman of EFCC on issues I think we can partner because there’s no need for us to be duplicating responsibilities, wasting resources and time. I hope with this first meeting, we are going to be meeting regularly to review what we are doing together.”
On his part, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede concurred on the position of collaboration saying the meeting had also presented an opportunity for the review of the existing MoU between the two agencies.
“We have areas of similar mandates and with the population of about 250 million people, there’s so much in our hands and I can tell you that the enormity of the work demands that we work together”.
The EFCC Boss also said that the political will of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fight corruption, as demonstrated in recent events were enough boost for anti-corruption agencies to give their best.
“We believe that with the kind of President that we have, who is willing and ready to do the right thing as demonstrated in the last 48 hours, it is clear that the President is providing the political will and the leadership for the anti-corruption agencies to work and I believe that with this, there’s no hiding place for us and we must ensure that we give our best.
“We are going to give the President the right support and we believe that the courage would be there to take the right decisions. Nobody is too big to be investigated in this country. Once you are not playing to the rules, we’ll investigate you.
ICPC, under the leadership of the Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, is steadfast in its resolve to fight corruption through enhanced inter-agency collaboration. ‘
Sexual Harassment: Court Remands Suspended UNICAL Professor Pending Bail Application
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered that Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), be remanded at the Kuje Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the conclusion of his bail application.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on Monday, arraigned Ndifon in court on four (4) counts charge over an alleged sexual misconduct against some of his students.
The Professor of Law however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Counsel to the defendant, Okon Efut had prayed that the defendant be granted bail as the application for that had been filed on his behalf on January 2nd, 2024.
However, counsel to the ICPC, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha opposed the bail application on the ground that one of the lawyers representing the defendant, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu had allegedly threatened one of the star witnesses ICPC lined up for the trial.
In his defence, Barrister Anyanwu, who had earlier argued that the name of the said witness was not listed in the charges read, later told the court that it was the ‘witness’ that called him.
Justice Omotosho however directed Barrister Anyanwu to file his affidavit of fact within 48 hours over the threat allegation of ICPC witness leveled against him.
He also ruled that the defendant, Professor Cyril Ndifon, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre till on Wednesday, 10th of January, 2024 when hearing on his bail application would be concluded.
No Hiding Place for the Corrupt-Olukoyede
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has assured that there will be no hiding place for the corrupt in Nigeria, given the political will of President Bola Tinubu to frontally tackle economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
He gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 when the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the Commission.
According to him, President Tinubu is offering the right atmosphere for anti-graft activities, both for the EFCC and ICPC and no Nigerian is immune to investigations for any corruption allegation. “We believe that with the kind of President we have, who is ready and willing to do the right thing and from what we have seen in recent times and in the last 48 hours, it is clear that he has provided the political will and leadership and created the atmosphere for us to work. So there is no hiding place for the corrupt. We must give our best, we must be committed and give the President the right support he needs. Nobody is too big to be investigated in this country. Once you are not playing according to the rules, we will investigate you”, he said.
He further noted that the engagement with the ICPC was sending the right signals to the entire country that the anti-corruption agencies are coming together and extending hands of comradeship and fellowship to each other with a mind to work together. He recalled that there was a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between both agencies. “Today, the MoU is in place. It is going to be a living document that we can review from time to time to accommodate mutual interest.”
Olukoyede pointed out that the enormity of cases both agencies are handling justified their independent existence. “Even with five anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, we hardly can do more than scratch the surface. One anti-corruption agency in the US has a staff strength of about thirty-five thousand. I am not sure the staff strength of the EFCC and the ICPC put together will be up to seven thousand. Though people have been talking of duplication of responsibilities between the EFCC and ICPC, I don’t see it from that perspective. I see it from the perspective of the enormity of the work on our hands. When you are limited by staff strength and resources and there is still so much to be done, it becomes important to work together and see if we can move the country forward”, he said.
To reinforce his commitment to collaboration, the EFCC boss recalled that he reminded the Senate during his confirmation session about the overarching need for collaboration among the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU and Code of Conduct Tribunal “because we all have roles to play, especially as the major cankerworm hindering our economic and national development is corruption.”
In his opening remarks, the ICPC boss stressed the need for understanding and synergy between his Commission and the EFCC. “It is very important for us to work together. And we cannot work together without having a good relationship, that’s why I decided to extend hands of friendship to the EFCC so that we can see how we can work closely in helping this country to fight corruption. I am aware that there is an MoU between the ICPC and the EFCC.
Continuing, he maintained that “ ICPC is very much ready to collaborate and partner with the EFCC. We thank God that there is a good working relationship and I hope that we are going to sustain this relationship. I also hope we will be meeting on a regular basis to review what we are doing together to see how we can strengthen our relationship. May God help us in the discharge of these onerous tasks”.
The meeting was attended by top management staff of both Commission.
Head, Media & Publicity
January