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Hard drugs: 929 suspects arrested in Kwara within 12 months – NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara Command, says a total number of 929 people were arrested for hard drugs related offences between January and December 2024 in the state.
The state Commander, Mrs Fatima Popoola, disclosed this on Monday during a news conference at the NDLEA headquarters in Ilorin.
Popoola said that those arrested included 839 males and 90 females in the state within a year.
She explained that the command conducted series of activities to suppress the supply and demand for hard drugs, adding that 2,642,103 kilograms were seized within the year in review.
“The seized drugs includes cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, methamphetamine, cough syrup laced with codeine, and cocaine/crack.
“Cannabis tops the list of seized drugs accounting to 1,455,529 kilograms, so the state is in dire need of intervention to solve the hydra–headed challenges of abuse and trafficking in cannabis.
“The mop up of 1.5 tones of cannabis is a big saviour to parents and the good people of the state, if not, the destructive effects of the drugs could have been devastating,” she said.
The commander said that 185 hard drugs users were apprehended and referred to the drug demand reduction unit for brief interventions, and were re-integrated with their families.
“In addition to the intervention efforts, 22 clients were admitted in our rehabilitation facility with other 17 clients who are non-residential, coming from their homes for counselling.
“The prosecution and legal service unit secured 133 convictions from the Federal High Court, Ilorin, which involved 123 males and 10 females, while more cases were charged but still pending.
“14 motor vehicles and 12 motorcycles used by the suspects in drug crimes and monies seized were forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said.
Popoola said that the command, in conjunction with the state government, had also started drug integrity tests titled “Drug Testing Policy”, in which 261 fresh students of Kwara State University, Malete, were tested.
“The vice chancellor; dean of student affairs, and all the fresh students tested proved negative for hard drugs. Many thanks to the university for providing a favourable and suitable climate for the test.
“Other institutions of higher learning need to emulate such a policy that will help Nigeria achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3: “Health and wellbeing for all by 2030”,” she said.
The commander, however, said that the rehabilitation centre that could accommodate 200 people for treatment and counselling of drug addicts, had not been completed due to paucity of funds.
“Also, the command needs official vehicles in all the eight stations for easy mobility, and funds for other necessary things in the office,” she said. (NAN
Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT), has kicked against the national assembly’s use of voice vote in approving the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state.
On Thursday, the upper and lower legislative chambers approved Tinubu’s request for emergency rule in Rivers, using a voice vote.
The approval follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the state assembly, over a protracted political crisis.
In a statement issued on Friday, Kingibe said the required two-thirds majority consensus “cannot be accurately determined by a mere voice vote”.
“As the senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT) elected on the platform of Labour Party, I, Ireti Kingibe, maintain a clear, firm and unequivocal stance on the recent declaration of emergency rule and the associated voting procedures conducted in the National Assembly,” the statement reads.
“I strongly oppose the use of voice voting for such critical, vital and constitutional issues. The Nigerian Constitution explicitly mandates that a state of emergency proclaimed by the President must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each house of the national assembly.”
Kingibe said the senate standing order and house rules “mandate a roll call or electronic voting system to accurately determine numerical compliance for decisions of this magnitude”.
She added that the national assembly, as custodians of the Nigerian constitution, must uphold its duty of guiding the President’s decisions and ensuring that the rule of law prevails.
The senator also urge Nigerians to ensure they hold their representatives accountable for the decision on Rivers state.
“A two-thirds (2/3) majority is required for significant decisions like approving an emergency proclamation in the national assembly, and this level of consensus cannot be accurately determined by a voice vote,” she added.
“When a supermajority like two-thirds is needed, a recorded vote — whether through division voting, roll call, or electronic voting is necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
“A voice vote is insufficient for determining a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for an emergency proclamation. A formal recorded vote is crucial to confirm the exact number of lawmakers in support.
“National Assembly members are the direct representatives of the people, the voice of the people. Without a roll call or electronic voting, the people haven’t spoken and therefore cannot, should not and will not take responsibility for the President’s decision, as constitutionally required in matters of this magnitude.”
The federal high court in Lokoja has granted an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on petitions to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator.
The court granted the order on Thursday following an ex-parte application for an interim injunction, supported by an “affidavit of extreme urgency”.
On Wednesday, videos circulating on social media appeared to show constituents signing documents as part of the recall process. A source in Kogi had confirmed that efforts to recall the senator were underway.
Court documents seen by TheCable showed that the application was filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi central. They were represented by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co.
The court order prohibits INEC and its representatives from accepting or acting on petitions linked to the recall, which the applicants claim contain fictitious signatures.
The order also bars the electoral commission from conducting a referendum on the matter until the substantive case is resolved.
“That an interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion,” the order reads.
The order of the court and the motion on notice are to be served on the defendant (INEC).
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Supreme Court by its judgment in the disputed national secretary position has affirmed former National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the authentic scribe of the party.
In a statement on Friday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said that the apex court’s ruling reinforces the principle that leadership decisions within political parties are internal matters beyond judicial interference.
He said Okoye’s emergence as National Secretary was in line with party regulations.
Ologunagba stated that following the nomination of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the November 2023 election in Imo State, the NWC, at its 576th meeting on October 11, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement.
“Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the substantiative National Secretary of the PDP having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory Organs and bodies in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017),” the party said.
“For clarity, the NWC at its 576th meeting held on the 11th of October, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu upon Senator Anyanwu’s nomination as the governorship candidate of the PDP to contest the November 2023 Governorship election in Imo State.
“Consequent upon the directive of the NWC, the South East Zonal Executive Committee at its meeting held on the 20th of October 2023 passed a resolution approving the emergence and forwarding of the name of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye to the NWC as the National Secretary of the Party.
“Accordingly, the NWC at its 577th meeting held on 7th of November 2023 pursuant to its powers under the PDP Constitution, duly received, deliberated upon, accepted and approved the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the Party, which appointment has also since been endorsed by relevant Organs and bodies of the PDP including the Board of Trustees (BoT), South East Zonal Caucus, the PDP Governors’ Forum and officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.”