PRESS STATEMENT

UNODC TO TRAIN NDLEA, OTHERS IN DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION

An elaborate action plan to regulate, upgrade and streamline drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation practice in the country is being worked upon by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other treatment centres. This preparation towards streamlining best practices in drug demand reduction nationwide is part of a national European Union (EU) funded project in response to drugs and related organised crime control in Nigeria.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade while receiving the UNODC Country representative in Nigeria, Mrs Mariam Sissoko and UNODC regional adviser on HIV & AIDS, Dr. Reychad Abdool at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos said that the Agency is prepared to collaborate with UNODC, European Union and other stakeholders on narcotics and organised crime control in the country. 

According to Giade, the visit of UNODC to the agency is timely to address the current problem of drug use among youths. “We have in the last two years discovered five clandestine laboratories used for the production of methamphetamine in the country. The implication is that methamphetamine which is a powerful stimulant is now being produced locally. This must be checked at all levels. Drug transit countries are at risk of becoming drug consumers and there is even a higher risk when the drugs are locally produced. There is no better time to plan against drug abuse especially among the youths”.

Dr Abdool stated that he was impressed that Nigeria has a lot of experts in drug demand reduction that can be relied upon. “Nigeria has a lot of experts that can be used in creating a new and upgraded drug rehabilitation infrastructure. We hope to enhance the capacity of these experts for quality service delivery in drug counselling, treatment and rehabilitation in the country with NDLEA as the coordinating body”.

UNODC Country representative, Mrs Sissoko added that about 200 NDLEA officers will participate in the first phase of the project along with personnel from certified drug abuse treatment centres selected from the six geo-political zones in the country. “The project is designed to develop the capacity of professionals in charge of drug abuse treatment in the country. In the first phase, six treatment centres one from each geopolitical zone shall be upgraded to international standard. The ultimate aim is to encourage professionalism such that every practitioner both at the government and Non-Governmental level can operate within a minimum international standard in drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation”.

The visit of the UNODC boss which coincided with the first national planning committee meeting for the commemoration of the international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking is expected to strengthen drug control activities in the country. June 26 every year has been set aside by the United Nations in commemoration of the fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse.

Ofoyeju Mitchell

NDLEA WINS APPEAL AS BABA SUWE GOES TO SUPREME COURT

 By Ofoyeju Mitchell

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Friday May 31 set aside the judgment of Justice Yetunde Idowu of Lagos State High Court which ordered the anti-narcotic Agency to pay twenty-five million naira (N25,000,000) to popular comedian, Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe for unlawful arrest and detention for nine days from October 12, 2011 to October 20, 2011. The Comedian was apprehended on October 12, 2011 over suspicion of narcotic ingestion during the screening of Air France passengers to Paris.

In a judgement delivered by Justice R. N Pemu, the court held that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), had good reason to detain the comedian. It upheld the argument of the NDLEA that the Lagos State High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter and accordingly set aside the 25 million naira compensation awarded against the NDLEA and the order to publish public apology in two national dailies within 21 days of judgement.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade described the Appeal Court judgement as a victory for drug control in the country. In his words, “this judgement is a victory for drug control in the country”.

In its judgenment on the issue of damages awarded against the Agency, the Appeal court stated that the detention of the comedian was within a reasonable period as stipulated by the law. “The Agency was conscious of the fundamental rights of the comedian when it promptly approached the Federal High Court Lagos for additional days of detention for observation. There was simply no basis for the 25 million naira damages. The compensation is excessive and hereby set aside” Justice Pemu stated.

The NDLEA Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, expressed delight with the Appeal Court judgement. “We are happy with the judgement. It is fair and serves the best interest of justice” Femi stated.

Adopting NDLEA’s brief dated February 3, 2012, Oloruntoba submitted that the lower court judge erred in law as the judgment was not a product of evidence presented before the court. Oloruntoba argued that the lower court erred as the entire judgment was faulty and that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the fundamental human rights suit filed by the respondent.

In a swift reaction, counsel to Babatunde Omidina,  Mr Bamidele Aturu said that they will contest the Appeal Court judgement at the Supreme Court. “With profound respect, we thank the Court for the judgement. However, we disagree with the decision and will appeal the judgement” Aturu said.

It will be recalled that in its judgment, the lower court ordered NDLEA to pay Baba Suwe N25 million as compensation and that the agency should publish a public apology in two widely read national newspapers.

two cultists in police custody for killing Hip Hop artist Damino Damoche

police sources stated two suspected cultists have been arrested over the grusome murder of Upcoming hip hop artist  and a student of the Lagos State University, LASU, Olaniyan Damilola, popularly known as Damino Damoche and four other students in Lagos state . The suspected cultists were arrested during a raid at the piopular Alaba  International market .  The officers raided the market last week folowing the grusome killing of four men by an unnamed cult group 

HOW N15MILLION BRIBE WOULD HAVE KILLED CYNTHIA OSOKOGU’S MURDER CASE INTERVIEW WITH ASSISTANT  COMMISSIONER OF POLICE  AREA “E” FESTAC TOWN. DAMIEN OKORO.

BY PATIENCE OGBO

 ACP Okoro was one of the police officers conferred with meritorious award and certificate of bravery by President Goodluck Jonathan at the recent event to mark the police week in Abuja .

 The award is in recognition of his groundbreaking investigation into the gruesome murder of Cynthia Osukogu, a postgraduate student murdered by her face book friends in Lagos.

ACP Okoro in an interview after he received his award stated that Miss Osokogu’s killers offered him N15million to compromise the case. He also spoke about his love for unraveling crime and the need for police officers to improve themselves on the job.

He said “ I try to achieve a fete  in my profession and in all I do . Investigations into the murder of Miss  Osukogu was not an easy one as she was killed in such a manner that it would take a very intelligent officer to arrest her killers. There was no complainant , no means to locate her family as her phones were styolen by her killers . We also could  not Identify her or say this was where she was coming from. Investigation into the killing   took my officers and I to Cotonu in Benin REPUBLIC where we played a decoy  undercover as we broke the barrier of the INTERPOL that would have slowed down the case.  We went to Anambra State University.

When, we got the call log, It was about 300- 400 pages and we did a deep study of the call log; involved  forensic analysis –it was tasking analyzing all the activities on the social media, Facebook, twitter. I took a great risk putting my life and that of my officers on the line  to go after the killers because my spirit was high and that was why I took the risk not minding that there is grave danger we made arrest about midnight 1;15am  until 3.15am we were in operation. It was the painstaking forensic investigation we did that showed the suspect was economical with the truth about his location. He was in Lagos State but claimed he was in Abuja.

Did  you think that you will be celebrated for  arresting  Cynthia’s killers?

 ACP Okoro: My mind was not on any award. I was just doing what a police officer is expected to do in such a situation to find the killers. I am very glad and I feel elated at the awards and certificates I have received and the President’s award is a great fete that is not common. I am fulfilled and I thank God that I was honored -It is nothing compared to the N15million I was offered. Today have been celebrated and that is all I wanted. I received the National Orientation Agency, Security Watch Africa awards, the best Area Commander in Nigeria award in 2012 also, the IGP award and the President’s meritorious award. If we had collected money, the celebration would not be today.

I am happy because I never compromised the case because if I had done that then this award would not be today. Actually, the suspect gave me money for us to kill Cynthia Osokogu’s murder  and there were pressure from everywhere that we should not arrest other suspects. I got furious when Eche, the killer was bold to say that I should remove the handcuff   from his hands; that he wants to go home and his people are coming to “see” me. He told me that why am I bothering myself with that prostitute?  I told him he was not going anywhere. He thought I was being tough so he offered, N10million. I was just looking at him and I said, you cannot go anywhere . He thought I was looking for more money so he increased his bribe to N15million. At this point, I became very furious with  him that he had no remorse after killing a human being in that manner . I stood my ground that he cannot go after committing such heinous crime. He thought I was joking but he got the message when my men took him away and locked him up. If I had collected that N15million, then we would not be talking about this award. The N15million is nothing to be compared with the life time award I received from the president. This award is not a mean fete. I will cherish the award all my life.  It shows that if one works hard, and is dedicated, the person would be recognized and honoured .

WHAT IS THE Height OF Your   PROFESSION?

 ACP Okoro: Every officer should strive to make a name for his or herself and put themselves in the echelon of crime busting   which is the fundamental in police work. The aspiring officer should look for a mentor. I own all the achievement so far to the IGP Mohammed Abubakar . He is my mentor and I adore him. I have known my boss for over a decade and I have worked with him and learnt from his wisdom and knowledge. He was the one who encouraged me to read law. The Lagos State commissioner of police Umar Manko is also a police man I adore. He gave me the ENABLING environment and the necessary support to carry out investigations. If he had said   the Cynthia’s case should be transferred, then we would not be saying anything about awards and being celebrated. 

How did you achieve so much despite the challenges on the job?

ACP Okoro : The modern technology  involving forensic  investigation has been digitalized- , using computer and the social media to crack cases requires tech knowledge   . What this entails is updating one’s knowledge and expertise. I had to enroll in a technology school where I acquired knowledge in forensic investigation. Also, there is the challenge of human, political and economic pressure trying to make you compromise. When highly placed individuals call you and want the case compromised it makes the job difficult but an astute policeman must stand his ground and say no.

How have you been succeeding in spite of poor infrastructures and equipment to do your work?

ACP  Okoro: There are a lot of training programme for officers as the IGP Mohammed Abubakar  is one person that believes in training and retraining and there are courses in this regards to make officers excel on the job. Like I said, success on the job is a personal aspiration and desire. An officer should have that high innate passion to achieve more – to become an achiever of international repute. This kind of mindset will make you go far in life.

 Would you have preferred another profession?

ACP  Okoro: It has been on my mind to join the police even when I was in school. I am from a family of policemen and I got attracted to the profession I loved so much and I don’t regret it . If I am reincarnated, I would still become a policeman. My experience in the Police Force has been awesome.  I advise other officers to train and retain themselves especially in modern policing and the use of the web and social media. It is left to them to become achievers on the job.

HOW N15MILLION BRIBE WOULD HAVE KILLED CYNTHIA OSOKOGU’S MURDER CASE INTERVIEW WITH ASSISTANT  COMMISSIONER OF POLICE  AREA “E” FESTAC TOWN. DAMIEN OKORO.

BY PATIENCE OGBO

 ACP Okoro was one of the police officers conferred with meritorious award and certificate of bravery by President Goodluck Jonathan at the recent event to mark the police week in Abuja .

 The award is in recognition of his groundbreaking investigation into the gruesome murder of Cynthia Osukogu, a postgraduate student murdered by her face book friends in Lagos.

ACP Okoro in an interview after he received his award stated that Miss Osokogu’s killers offered him N15million to compromise the case. He also spoke about his love for unraveling crime and the need for police officers to improve themselves on the job.

He said “ I try to achieve a fete  in my profession and in all I do . Investigations into the murder of Miss  Osukogu was not an easy one as she was killed in such a manner that it would take a very intelligent officer to arrest her killers. There was no complainant , no means to locate her family as her phones were styolen by her killers . We also could  not Identify her or say this was where she was coming from. Investigation into the killing   took my officers and I to Cotonu in Benin REPUBLIC where we played a decoy  undercover as we broke the barrier of the INTERPOL that would have slowed down the case.  We went to Anambra State University.

When, we got the call log, It was about 300- 400 pages and we did a deep study of the call log; involved  forensic analysis –it was tasking analyzing all the activities on the social media, Facebook, twitter. I took a great risk putting my life and that of my officers on the line  to go after the killers because my spirit was high and that was why I took the risk not minding that there is grave danger we made arrest about midnight 1;15am  until 3.15am we were in operation. It was the painstaking forensic investigation we did that showed the suspect was economical with the truth about his location. He was in Lagos State but claimed he was in Abuja.

Did  you think that you will be celebrated for  arresting  Cynthia’s killers?

 ACP Okoro: My mind was not on any award. I was just doing what a police officer is expected to do in such a situation to find the killers. I am very glad and I feel elated at the awards and certificates I have received and the President’s award is a great fete that is not common. I am fulfilled and I thank God that I was honored -It is nothing compared to the N15million I was offered. Today have been celebrated and that is all I wanted. I received the National Orientation Agency, Security Watch Africa awards, the best Area Commander in Nigeria award in 2012 also, the IGP award and the President’s meritorious award. If we had collected money, the celebration would not be today.

I am happy because I never compromised the case because if I had done that then this award would not be today. Actually, the suspect gave me money for us to kill Cynthia Osokogu’s murder  and there were pressure from everywhere that we should not arrest other suspects. I got furious when Eche, the killer was bold to say that I should remove the handcuff   from his hands; that he wants to go home and his people are coming to “see” me. He told me that why am I bothering myself with that prostitute?  I told him he was not going anywhere. He thought I was being tough so he offered, N10million. I was just looking at him and I said, you cannot go anywhere . He thought I was looking for more money so he increased his bribe to N15million. At this point, I became very furious with  him that he had no remorse after killing a human being in that manner . I stood my ground that he cannot go after committing such heinous crime. He thought I was joking but he got the message when my men took him away and locked him up. If I had collected that N15million, then we would not be talking about this award. The N15million is nothing to be compared with the life time award I received from the president. This award is not a mean fete. I will cherish the award all my life.  It shows that if one works hard, and is dedicated, the person would be recognized and honoured .

WHAT IS THE Height OF Your   PROFESSION?

 ACP Okoro: Every officer should strive to make a name for his or herself and put themselves in the echelon of crime busting   which is the fundamental in police work. The aspiring officer should look for a mentor. I own all the achievement so far to the IGP Mohammed Abubakar . He is my mentor and I adore him. I have known my boss for over a decade and I have worked with him and learnt from his wisdom and knowledge. He was the one who encouraged me to read law. The Lagos State commissioner of police Umar Manko is also a police man I adore. He gave me the ENABLING environment and the necessary support to carry out investigations. If he had said   the Cynthia’s case should be transferred, then we would not be saying anything about awards and being celebrated. 

How did you achieve so much despite the challenges on the job?

ACP Okoro : The modern technology  involving forensic  investigation has been digitalized- , using computer and the social media to crack cases requires tech knowledge   . What this entails is updating one’s knowledge and expertise. I had to enroll in a technology school where I acquired knowledge in forensic investigation. Also, there is the challenge of human, political and economic pressure trying to make you compromise. When highly placed individuals call you and want the case compromised it makes the job difficult but an astute policeman must stand his ground and say no.

How have you been succeeding in spite of poor infrastructures and equipment to do your work?

ACP  Okoro: There are a lot of training programme for officers as the IGP Mohammed Abubakar  is one person that believes in training and retraining and there are courses in this regards to make officers excel on the job. Like I said, success on the job is a personal aspiration and desire. An officer should have that high innate passion to achieve more – to become an achiever of international repute. This kind of mindset will make you go far in life.

 Would you have preferred another profession?

ACP  Okoro: It has been on my mind to join the police even when I was in school. I am from a family of policemen and I got attracted to the profession I loved so much and I don’t regret it . If I am reincarnated, I would still become a policeman. My experience in the Police Force has been awesome.  I advise other officers to train and retain themselves especially in modern policing and the use of the web and social media. It is left to them to become achievers on the job.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARIES OF  FUEL SUBSIDY---Study.
By Patience Ogbo
Government officials are the major beneficiaries of fuel subsidy in Nigeria. This revelation was made following a research conducted by the three Nonprofit organizations made up of independent, non-partisan, African-based network of researchers.
'Kemi Okenyodo the Executive Director of  CLEEN Foundation said  the research was organized by the CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with the Afrobarometer Network and the Center for Democratic Development CDD-Ghana. The result   was presented at a press briefing on May 22nd in Lagos State.
She said “The Afrobarometer (AB) is a comparative series of public opinion surveys that measure public attitudes toward democracy, governance, the economy, leadership, identity, and other related issues. The AB is an independent, non-partisan, African-based network of researchers. The first round of surveys took place in 1999-2001 in 12 countries.  The Network has conducted “Round 5” surveys in up to 35 countries including Nigeria during 2011-2012.

Two thousand four hundred (2,400) respondents were interviewed in their homes using personal face-to-face interview and multi-stage sampling technique.To ensure adequate representation of adult Nigerians population, probability sampling procedure was used to neutralize any known form of bias that may affect the findings of the study. Respondents were males and females, age 18 years and above.  Interviews were conducted throughout week days and weekends, to ensure that respondents of all works of life were included in the sample”.

Miss Okenyodo added that the purpose of Afrobarometer survey in Nigeria is to measure popular perspectives on the social, political, and economic environment. The goal is to give the public a voice in policy making processes by providing high-quality public opinion data to policy-makers, policy advocates and civil society organizations, academics, media, donors and investors, and ordinary Africans.“We went to the greatest length in quality control measures in order to ensure that the process of collecting and analyzing the data we are presenting today adhered to the highest possible international standard in reliability.
The field administration of the survey questionnaire in Nigeria was handled by the Practical Sampling International (PSI), a reputable social research firm that has worked with the CLEEN Foundation and the Afrobarometer network over the years and has conducted similar surveys for local and international organizations” .she said.
The Survey,   focused on five areas   which include election, rotation of Presidency, creation of more states, corruption and fuel subsidy.
“62% of Nigerians say government should maintain the fuel subsidy. The Nigeria public have the believe that creation of more States and Local government Areas will improve development of the country; 60% of Nigerians approve the rotation of Presidency across regions against 40% who say anyone should contest for the office of the presidency regardless of the region .While majority of Nigerians say the quality of the 2011 general election in Nigeria is better than 2007 national elections. Also, wide majority of Nigerians say government officials benefits most from fuel subsidies and most Nigerian residents say it is difficult to start-up a small or medium scale business in Nigeria”.  Miss Okenyodo said. Kathy Addy, the representative of Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana stated that the research assists government in formulating policies that will prioritise the needs of the people.
“The first round of surveys took place in 1999-2001 in 12 countries. The Network is now conducting “Round 5” surveys in up to 35 countries including Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Guinea, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Togo, Tunisia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan during 2011-2012.The goal is to give the public a voice in policy making processes by providing high-quality public opinion data to policy-makers, policy advocates and civil society organizations, academics, media, donors and investors, and ordinary Africans.”
Gbolahan Adeniran, the Senior Special Assistance to the Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice Lagos State applauded the researchers stating that the Lagos state government has benefitted immensely from the scientific researches which are  unbiased and geared towards meaniful developmental policies and implementation.
The Round 5 Core Funders include the DFID, SIDA, USAID and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

18 years- old -lady allegedly hangs herself in Lagos

Officers of the Lagos state police command are investigate the alleged suicide by one  one Rebecca  18 years old who  allegedly hanged herself at N0. 15 Agbonifo Street Ikotun Lagos. The incident occurred om May 5th 2013.The corpse has been deposited at Isolo Genera Hospital Mortuary for autopsy. The case is under investigation at Ikotun Division