Again, NDLEA Nabs Suspected Fake Military Officers with 234kg Illicit Drugs
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted two suspected fake military officers in a new VIP edition of Toyota Hilux Jeep loaded with a total of 394 compressed parcels of illicit drugs concealed in different parts of the vehicle.
The suspected fake military officers - Mohammed Nura and Abubakar Dahiru, were intercepted by vigilant operatives of the Kogi State Command of the NDLEA along Okene-Lokoja expressway on Monday February 15, 2021.
According to the Commander, Kogi State Command of the anti-drug agency, Mr. Adewunmi Alfred, the VIP edition of the Hilux Jeep was properly searched during which 394 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa were discovered in different compartments of the vehicle.
“Our initial investigations have revealed that the consignment was taken from Lagos and heading to Kano for delivery. Though the two men identified themselves as military officers but that did not sway our men from a thorough search of their vehicle and the result was the discovery of the illicit drugs tucked in every hidden part of the vehicle. Indeed, we suspect the two men to be fake military officers until proven otherwise,” he stated in a brief to the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) on Monday.
He added that the vehicle has been impounded, the illicit drugs seized and the suspects detained for further investigations.
The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday said killer herdsmen, bandits, and other criminals have taken over all roads leading to Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State.
The House, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, to prioritise the security of those local government areas and arrest the criminals terrorising the areas.
It also urged the various security agencies to collaborate for the purpose of ensuring a safe and conducive environment in the areas, while mandating its Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled: ‘Need to Address the Worsening Security Situation in Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State’, sponsored by Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha.
Moving the motion, Onyejiocha said there was an increasingly disturbing security situation in and around the local government areas, which, unless urgent steps are taken, may degenerate to chaos and lawlessness.
She recalled that on October 6, 2020, the Chairman (Transition Committee) of Isuikwuato Local Government Area and a member representing Isuikwuato Local Government Area in Abia State House of Assembly were attacked on the same road.
The lawmaker said while the state Assembly member was lucky to have escaped unharmed with a bullet-ridden vehicle, the Transition Committee Chairman paid a ransom to regain his freedom from the kidnappers.
The lawmaker lamented that the people in the community no longer go to their farms or engage in other means of gaining livelihood for fear of being abducted, raped or killed by herdsmen and criminals who have taken over their farmlands and roads.
The trial of a former Governor of Plateau State, Air Commodore Jonah Jang (rtd) for an alleged misappropriation of public fund amounting to N6.3billion was stalled yesterday due to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Jang is standing trial alongside a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Mr. Yusuf Pam.
Accused by the anti-graft agency of committing the alleged offences towards the end of his tenure as governor in 2015, the duo were first arraigned in 2018. But they pleaded not guilty to the offences.
Yesterday’s hearing of the case was to enable the EFCC to present its witnesses in continuation of the case which began afresh in 2020 following the retirement of a former judge, Justice Daniel Longji who was handling the case.
But when the trial resumed yesterday, Oluwatosin Meseh announced his appearance for Jacobs and pleaded with the court not to go ahead with the case .
According to him, Jacobs had received several notices from the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal counsel, to appear on another special panel and therefore could not be present at the Jos court to continue with the case .
Meseh further told the court that the Senior lawyer had also called Jang’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to inform him of the development and that both counsels agreed that the case be shifted to May 18, 2021 for continuation of hearing.
Ozekhome who was represented by a former Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Olivia Dazyem did not raise any objection to the EFCC submission.
However, Counsel to the Second Defendant, Sunday Odey expressed displeasure over the way the EFCC was handling the matter involving his client, Yusuf Pam.