The National
Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has denied the allegation from former
Nigerian first lady Patience Jonathan that it is harassing her.
The
anti-narcotics agency described the allegation as spurious and misleading,
stressing that it had no case against Mrs. Jonathan. The agency emphasized,
however, that no individual is above the law.
A statement
by Mitchell Ofoyeju, the spokesperson for NDLEA, expressed surprise that the
agency could be mentioned in a petition by Mrs. Jonathan when she was not being
investigated by the agency.
Mr. Ofoyeju
stated that the former first lady, in a petition presented before the House of
Representatives by a lawmaker from Rivers State, Mr. Gogo Bright-Tamuno, on
behalf of her lawyer, Granville Abibo, purported that the NDLEA and other
agencies were constantly harassing her.
He said that
the speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, who presided over the session, admitted the
petition and referred it to the Committee on Public Petitions for hearing.
“The NDLEA,
as a reputable agency of government, does not harass. Rather, it takes
appropriate action against anyone or group of persons who contravene the NDLEA
Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2001,” the statement said.
“This is
done through painstaking investigation, arrest and prosecution of suspected drug
traffickers. All operations are conducted in compliance with the rule of law
and global best practices.”
The agency
reiterated its commitment to ridding the country of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances, adding that it remained committed to the fight against
drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse.
Mr. Ofoyeju
insisted that the agency would not harass any person or organization, but those
who violate the country’s drug laws, no matter their status, would not go
unpunished.
0 Comments