July 01, 2014Temitope OgunbankeNews0
Worried by alleged monumental cover ups at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to exhume the report of the Justice Gilbert Obayan National Committee for the reform of the NDLEA to deal with the situation.
The coalition said this was necessary to put an end to what it described as high level of corruption in the anti-drug agency.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Lagos on this year’s Anti- Drug Day celebration, Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, expressed dissatisfaction about reported cases of how some unscrupulous elements in the agency are helping drug barons to evade serving jail terms and ensuring that the suspect, while on trial gets light punishments.
“According to the report of Justice Gilbert Obayan National Committee for the reform of NDLEA, submitted in February 2007, jail racketeering is a vice that is pervasive in the anti-drug agency.
Jailevasion is actualised by the prosecution hands in the agency and prison officials, who strike the bargain, said to be usually initiated by the defence team.
“It is unheard of that those that are paid from taxpayers’ sweat to fight the war against drugs are the very ones aiding and abetting the nefarious and destructive activities of the drug barons.
“CACOL is therefore calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in line with the power vested in it, especially Section 7 subsection (1) a and b, to investigate NDLEA top officials, whether their lifestyles and the extent of their property are justified by their sources of income.”