Monday, May 14, 2012

‘Creamy’ Cocaine weighing 9.5kg seized at MMIA, Lagos


The suspect
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded the first seizure of ‘creamy’ cocaine in the country.
The 9.500kg cocaine which looks like ice cream was being smuggled into the country in four big coolers by an unrepentant suspected drug trafficker who is currently facing trial over unlawful importation of a kilogramme of cocaine from Brazil in 2010.
The re-arrest of the 50 year old at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos has generated mixed reactions on the adequacy of the legal framework and justice dispensation in drug control.
The suspect, Martin Ikechukwu was caught with 9.500kg of creamy substance that tested positive for cocaine on his way from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Operatives of the NDLEA detected the drug following suspicion on the four giant size water coolers.
Further examination revealed the parcels of drugs after it was cut open. Four (4) parcels each of creamy cocaine were found to have been industrially strapped round the body of the four coolers.
In all a total of 16 parcels weighing 9.500kg with an estimated street value of over 90 million naira were recovered during search at the arrival hall of the airport.
NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar who confirmed the arrest explained that the command has been grappling with the problem of re-arrest of suspected drug traffickers who are released on bail.
“The re-arrest of persons undergoing trial for drug related charges is one of our numerous challenges. This suspect was first arrested on 23rd of February 2010 for ingesting one kilogramme of cocaine and there are several cases like this” Hamza noted.
Commenting on the arrest and drug seizure, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the arrest shows the extent to which drug barons can go in attempt to prevent drugs from being detected.
According to the NDLEA boss, “while this arrest reflects the level of desperation by drug barons, it has also raised questions on the issue of bail for drug traffickers. Certainly, the accused is unrepentant and has shown no remorse because he was first caught with 1kg and went back to smuggle 9.500kg of cocaine even when the first case is ongoing. We shall pursue this case to a logical conclusion and use it as deterrent to others”.
The Agency is also investigating the circumstances under which the suspect acquired new travel documents as well as his accomplices. Fresh facts have been uncovered by the investigating team.
Martin Ikechukwu hails from Enugu State. He attended Army Children Primary School, Ibadan, Oyo State and Government Technical College Awka where he graduated in 1980. He said that he wanted to raise some money to enable him settle down with his family.
“I travelled to Brazil in 2009 and was managing a restaurant to earn a living. Unfortunately, I was arrested when I came home in 2010. When I was granted bail, there was nobody to help me. I had no option than to smuggle drugs again because they promised to pay me the sum of 3 million naira. My intention was to settle down with my family because I am not getting younger” Martin stated. The suspect will soon be charged to court.

Friday, May 11, 2012

A YORUBA(MUSLIM) MAN IS THE ALLEGED COMMANDER OF BOKO HARAM IN KANO STATE,says JMT


A Muslim Yoruba man, Suleiman Mohammed, who hails from Ogbomosho, Oyo State, according to the Joint Military Task Force is the operational Commander of the Boko Haram in Kano.

He was detained on Friday alongside his wife and five children after a raid at his residence located at Farawa Babbanlayi where the military found sophisticated weaponry.  

 It was gathered that he has since been flown to Abuja.
Kano State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who confirmed the arrest of the sect leader attributed his capture to good intelligence work following a tip off.

Idris said no shot was fired during the raid, adding that 1000 rounds of ammunitions, 10 crates of IEDs, a riffle and 3 pistols were seized from him.

“The arrest came after a tip off from the public; and security agencies successfully arrested the top sect leader, whom we believe to be the operational commander of the sect in the state," he said.

Idris further stated that Suleiman is likely to be the person behind the series of organised deadly attacks in the state, particularly, the attack on Christian worshippers inside the BUK campus and the targeted killings of innocent persons in the state.

“After the bomb attack of BUK April 29th, the command's Bomb Disposal Unit recovered IEDs, and 14 canned IEDs at the University compound.

"Likewise, another bomb was evacuated from the Faculty of Sociology on May 1st, while three other bombs were recovered at various locations in the University May 8th and were successfully detonated."

Thursday, May 10, 2012

NJC Pardons Isa Ayo Salami

The National Judicial Council has unanimously agreed to pardon the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami.
Thee Council is expected to send a letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to reinstate him as the President of the Court, a highly place judicial source unveiled today( Thursday).
The decision to pardon Salami was taken during a two-day meeting of the council, however, NJC is yet to issue a formal statement concerning Salami’s reinstatement.
Justice Salami’s pardon is coming several months after he was disgraced out of office following his ignoble conduct and role in the judiciary. 
He was indicted by a panel set up by the NJC and was recommended for suspension and immediate retirement after he refused to apologise to the council and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu for telling lies against him.
Salami was accused of rigging the court process to award victories to two Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Governorship candidates. 
Call logs presented by the ousted PDP governors showed that Salami had maintained an alarming contact with ACN party chieftains, just before the court delivered its verdict in favour of the ACN. 
Curiously, the party has been leading the campaign for his reinstatement.
Following his suspension, President Jonathan, who said he did not want a vacuum at the court, replaced Salami with Justice Dalhatu Adamu.




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