Author: Seyi Ogunmoyela

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on Monday swore in Justice Lekan Ogunmoye as the sixth substantive Chief Judge of the state, with a charge to uphold justice with courage, integrity, and a strong sense of duty

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye who had served as the Acting Chief Judge since November 5, 2024, following the passing of his predecessor, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, was formally ratified by the Ekiti State House of Assembly on July 3, 2025 following a recommendation by the judiciary committee.

Speaking while performing the swearing-in at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji, who described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, affirmed that his administration would continue to support the judiciary by prioritizing the welfare of its members and giving the Judge all the needed support to carry out his duties diligently.

Acknowledging the long standing reputation of excellent and dignity of the state judiciary and emphasizing the need to preserve this heritage, the Governor urged the new Chief Justice to continually raise the bar of excellent and ensure prompt and efficient service delivery that meet global standards.

The Governor said: “Your Lordship, history will judge you not by the accolades you receive today, but by the legacy you leave behind after your tour of duty. In this position, courage and integrity must be your constant companions. Let it be said in years to come that under your leadership, the judiciary of Ekiti State reached a higher standard—one that ensured justice for all, regardless of status, gender, or circumstance.

While congratulating the new Chief Judge on his deserved elevation, Oyebanji said his administration remains committed to the independence of the judiciary and will continue to support judicial reforms, provide resources for improved infrastructure, and promote initiatives that will enhance the delivery of justice across the state.

“The position of Chief Judge is not a mere title—it is a sacred trust. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man because of the institution that guarantees the equality of all before the majesty of the Law. The institution must therefore, be guided, not by sentiment, fear, or favoritism, but by the Constitution and the dictates of the Law. As the most sacred, conservative and apolitical arm of Government, the Judiciary must be manned by persons of unimpeachable integrity, profound legal knowledge and astute administrative capability. These qualities therefore place upon the occupier of this exalted position, a sacred duty to uphold justice at all times regardless of whose interest is involved.

“I therefore implore Your Lordship to be guided by a sense of duty flowing from your years of experience beginning as a State Counsel, and later the Solicitor-General of Ekiti State and much later a Judge of the High Court. It is delightful that one can attest to your unblemished record as a Judge of the High Court for nearly two decades and your eighth months in acting capacity as Chief judge.

“The Ekiti State judiciary has a great reputation, one of excellence and dignity. This is a heritage we are proud of, and one we must protect and advance. I therefore, wish to say that there is more to be done in order to continuously raise the bar and to ensure prompt and efficient service delivery that meet global standards” the Governor asserted.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN), who commended Governor Oyebanji for his unwavering commitment to due process and the rule of law, said the Governor has continually demonstrated respect for independence of the judiciary

Mr Apata, who explained that the appointment of the new Chief Judge as the substantive Chief Judge was in compliance with the provision of law, stated that the Governor acted in accordance with the law, which empowers the State Governor to appointed a Chief Judge on the recommendation of the National Judiciary Council and subjected to the confirmation of the State House of Assembly

In his response, the new Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, who expressed his gratitude to the Governor for the confidence reposed in him, acknowledged the Governor’s commitment to the independence and growth of the judiciary and promised not to betray the trust of the government and the people of the state.

Justice Ogunmoye stated that his vision for the Ekiti State Judiciary is to fully embrace digital transformation in order to enhance efficiency and speed in the administration of justice, stressing that his goal is to modernize court process through technology, making judicial service more accessible to the public while ensuring greater transparency and accountability across all levels of the judiciary

Also at the event were, President, Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Monisade Abodunde, Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi, members of the State House of Assembly, members of the State Executice Council, members of the Judiciary, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe, and stakeholders from across the state’s legal comunity.

Former manager of gospel artist Mercy Chinwo and music producer, Ezekiel Onyedikachi (known as EeZeeTee) has been granted a ₦20 million bail in connection with an alleged $255,000 forex transaction fraud filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos in a brief ruling on Friday, set the bail condition, requiring that EeZeeTee present one surety who must reside in Lagos and own property worth at least the bail

The judge further instructed that the music producer is given 72 hours to fulfil the bail condition.

The EFCC had initially filed a 14-count charge against EeZeeTee for alleged fraudulent conversion of funds, but later amended the charge to seven counts, accusing him of engaging in foreign exchange transactions without the proper license.

Prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, informed the court that in June 2023, EeZeeTee negotiated a foreign exchange transaction worth $52,895 with one Mr. Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke, without authorisation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Buhari-Bala argued that the transaction violated Sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and is punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act.

EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to all charges. The case has been adjourned to June 20, 2025, for trial

…. As NDLEA intercepts 2.4million tramadol pills in Gombe; arrests 2 brothers behind cocaine shipment to Vietnam

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested an Ibadan, Oyo state-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville respectively.

NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on Friday 6th September 2024 intercepted a cargo going to the United Kingdom.

A thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.

A statement by NDLEA spokesperson,Femi Babafemi on Sunday stated that the freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested.

Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent. A follow up operation on Saturday 7th September led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.

In his statement, the agent Owojori confessed that he has been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK, adding that he was paid N2,411,000.00 for the job, while he was paid N2.1million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the same export shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 11th September intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and checkers powder custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines. A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of checkers powder custard packed together with some auto parts.

A follow up operation led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

Meanwhile, operatives of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA on Tuesday 10th September arrested two brothers: Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba who are sponsors of drug traffickers who specialise in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam. Their arrest followed diligent investigation of an earlier arrest of an Onitsha, Anambra state based-businessman, Ibeanusi Solomon Nosike, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.282 kilograms after 12 days of excretion observation after he was arrested at the local wing of the Lagos airport by NDLEA operatives.

The 36-year-old Ibeanusi was arrested in the early hours of Thursday 8th August 2024 at the old domestic terminal of the Lagos airport while attempting to board the first flight out of Lagos to Abuja where he was scheduled to join a Qatar Airways flight to Vietnam at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja at about 10am same day.

Another Vietnam-bound businessman, 54-year-old Paul Okwuy Mbadugha had been arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja airport on Monday 12th August 2024 during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine. After four days under observation, Mbadugha egested a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.710 kilograms.

At the time of the arrest of the two kingpins, the Ikeabba brothers, they were caught with 87 wraps of cocaine dummies used in training intending swallowers.

In Gombe state, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday 14th September arrested three suspects: Auwal Abdullahi, Isah Rabiu and Abubakar Da’u along Bauchi-Gombe road while travelling in a DAF truck marked GME 552 ZU. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of two million four hundred and ninety (2,490,000) pills of tramadol concealed with bags of salt.

A suspect, Idris Adamu, 23, was arrested with 41.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa at Kachia town, Kaduna state on Tuesday 10th September while two suspects: Godiya Sekyen Jikuk, 36, and Yusuf Umaru,65, were nabbed at Isinbode -Ekiti, Ekiti state with a total of 73.6kg cannabis on Wednesday 11th September.

In Bauchi state, no fewer than 208,920 pills of tramadol and diazepam were seized from a suspect, Chinedu Asadu, 35, on Thursday 13th September while 104kg of cannabis was recovered from two suspects: Abba Abdullahi and Mustapha Yahaya along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Tuesday 10th September by operatives in Lagos state.

Not less than 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were discovered by NDLEA operatives in two containers shipped from India during a joint examination of the containers with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan port in Lagos on Tuesday 10th September.

The containers were part of those targeted by NDLEA for 100 percent examination.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Secondary School, Galamawa and Government Junior Secondary School, Kaci, Dutse, Jigawa state; students of Kukudus Islamic School, Minna,Niger state; nurses and midwives at UBTH School of Nursing, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo state; members of Vulcanisers Association of Nigeria in Ibarapa central LGA, Oyo state; Muslim faithful at Central Mosque, Demsa, Adamawa state, and WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Rano, Kano state, Alhaji Muhammad Isah Umaru, among others.

While commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Tincan, Lagos, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Ekiti Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated. He urged them to continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on Friday led other dignitaries including the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye to pay last respect to a former Commissioner in the state, the late Chief (Mrs) Victoria Titilayo Ojo at Odo Ayedun Ekiti.

Chief (Mrs) Victoria Titilayo Ojo, a respected leader of the party, was a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism during the Otunba Niyi Adebayo led-administration between 1999 and 2003.

Speaking at the burial service held at the Sir Remi Omotoso Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Odo Ayedun Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji said the deceased was a great woman of substance who left an enduring legacy in both professional and private life.

The Governor, who described the late Mrs Ojo as not just a public servant but a woman of great character, whose value of integrity, dedication, hard work stood throughout her career, said the deceased’s dedication to humanitarian causes extended beyond her official duties.

He noted that the deceased’s selflessness and compassion were qualities that endeared her to the people of the state.

While consoling the husband, children and the family of the deceased, the Governor urged them to take solace in the fact that their mother lived a fulfilled life in the service to God and humanity.

“I know this is very painful. But the Bible tells us that in all circumstances we should praise God. Mummy has been a mother to me since 1999. And, it’s a personal loss to me as a person, but I thank God. when I woke up this morning, I was just thinking about her and giving glory to God for her life”. The Governor said.

In his homily titled “shall we still meet in the kingdom of God”? The Bishop of Ayedun Diocese of the Methodist Church of Nigeria,Rt Revd. (Dr) Titus Ilori Omoniyi, described the deceased as a lover of peace , charitable to the work of God and His people and a devoted Christian who did everything possible to support her community.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede on Friday, September 6, 2024 handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) the sum of $180,300 and 53 vehicles, being assets recovered for Canadian victims of Nigerian fraudsters.

One Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand US Dollars ($164,000) of the recovered cash assets belong to a victim, identified as Elena Bogomas while $16,300 (Sixteen Thousand, Three Hundred US Dollar) belong to another victim known as Sandra Butler. The recovered 53 vehicles were stolen over a period of time in Canada, freighted to Nigeria and distributed to multiple locations in Nigeria by the criminal elements.

Representing the RCMP in the hand over ceremony which was performed at the Chairman’s Conference Room, EFCC corporate headquarters, Jabi, Abuja were Robert Aboumitri, First Secretary, Deputy High Commission of Canada and Nasser Salihou, Liason Officer and Programme Manager, RCMP.
Olukoyede who was elated by the successes of EFCC’s collaborations with the RCMP noted that the efforts that led to the recoveries and the hand over ceremony spoke strongly to the fact that the Nigerian government was intolerant of fraud and corruption.

“We are here today to witness the handing over of assets recovered on behalf of the Canadian victims of cybercrime. What
the EFCC is doing today is on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. This is to demonstrate that the government of Nigeria will never and for whatever reason tolerate any act of financial crime. It is a demonstration of the fact that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed has given us the mandate to extend our hands of fellowship and collaboration with you to ensure that this particular problem is resolved. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP has been collaborating with us and that commitment has resulted in a lot of recoveries.

“The operation took a couple of years and eventually it resulted in substantial recoveries. So we deem it necessary to let our colleagues and our friends from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police know that as an agency, EFCC, and as a country, we are always ready to fight financial crimes. Nigeria is not, shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a hub, it’s a transit camp, the way Canada is a transit camp and most countries across the world because they move from one jurisdiction to another,” he said.

The EFCC boss noted that the fluid and intricate nature of transnational crimes and the challenges they pose have made synergy and collaboration among law enforcement agencies more compelling.

“It is common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe and have become a global problem. What affects one country in a matter of time ends up affecting several other countries. The people who perpetrate these crimes do it in such a way that their activities are borderless and boundless and they employ all kinds of means, tactics while moving across various jurisdictions.

“That is why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with all our friends across the world, that is, people who share the same objectives and mandate with us. Most of the countries across the world are collaborating with us in the area of fighting financial crimes. We investigate, pursue, recover, prosecute and ensure that victims of fraud are restituted,” he said.

Salihou in his remarks expressed appreciation and averred that the success of the EFCC’s endeavor testified to the Commission’s diligence and professionalism.

“I would like to on behalf of the RCMP extend our warm greeting and thank you for all the work that has been done and I am pretty sure the victims will hear and they will say the same. This is a testimony of your professionalism and your commitment to combat crime. I would not conclude my statement without thanking the government of Nigeria as well. With your permission Mr. Chairman, all other countries will be jealous of you.

“This shows that you are our key partner in West Africa in combating crimes. So thank you very much. We value this partnership and we will like to take it to the highest level possible,” he said.

Aboumitri who shared similar joy revealed that the need to confront borderless crimes was the primary motivation of the Canadian government to establish the RCMP in Nigeria.

“The RCMP decided to open an office in Nigeria in September 2021 because there was a recognition that while we are bound by jurisdictions, criminals are not and in order for us to fight crimes we need to actually go beyond jurisdiction and this is why we are here. And we have found out that in Nigeria one of our best partners is, has been and hoping it will continue to be is the EFCC.

” We never knocked EFCC’s door without them answering. It has been a great partnership and the culmination of the partnership is the result that we are seeing.

” We would like to thank you. We would like to thank the government of Nigeria and I will be amiss if I don’t thank the people we work with everyday in your team in Lagos”, he said.

.… Recovers tramadol consignment in cosmetics packs, as wanted ex-beauty queen surrenders after 8 months in hiding

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a total of Thirty-One Million One Hundred and Twenty-Four Thousand Six Hundred (31, 124, 600) pills of tramadol 225mg and bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over Seventeen Billion Nine Hundred and Thirty-Two Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N17, 932, 200, 000.00) in street value at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state and Tincan seaport in Lagos.

The seizures were made following intelligence processed by the Agency on the movement of the shipments from their port of origin in India, leading to a demand for a 100 percent joint examination of the watch-listed containers with the Nigerian Customs Service and other sister security agencies.

A breakdown of the seizures show that 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from two containers at Tincan port in Lagos on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th August 2024. Each of the two containers had 175,000 bottles of the opioid.

At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted a total of 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg containing Twenty-Nine Million Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand (29, 840,000) pills of the opioid as well as 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup from three containers on Thursday 29th August.

The tramadol shipments came under different brand names such as Royal Tapetadol, Carisoprodol 225mg and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg.

The following day, Friday 30th August, another set of three containers watch-listed by NDLEA were subjected to joint examination.

At the end of the exercise, a total of 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup containing 554,600 bottles of the opioid were recovered from them.

This brings the total bottles of codeine seized at Onne, Rivers and Tincan in Lagos to 1,284,600 bottles worth N8,992,200,000.00 in street value while the combined seizure of tramadol stood at 29, 840,000 pills valued at N8,940,000,000.00.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers state on Tuesday 27th August arrested a suspect, Eze Emekan Don, while attempting to board a Cronos airline flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea with 1,490 pills of tramadol concealed and packaged as cosmetics of different brands inside his luggage. His attempt to compromise the officers to evade arrest was rebuffed.

Meanwhile, a wanted ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye has surrendered to the Lagos Command of the Agency after about eight months in hiding.

She was declared wanted by the Agency in January after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki on Wednesday 24th January following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances.

The suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation.

Recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.

The suspect who claimed she has been hiding in Akure Ondo state since January when she escaped arrest in Lekki Lagos however surrendered to the Agency on Wednesday 28th August.

No less than 1,122 kilograms of cannabis were seized from a suspect, Mustapha Ibrahim when he was arrested on Monday 26th August along Orchid road, Ajah, Lagos, while 816kg of the same psychoactive substance belonging to a suspect at large was recovered from the same location same day.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on Monday 26th August arrested a suspect Friday Gabriel along Minna-Suleja road while conveying 1,900 capsules of tramadol, 300 bottles of codeine syrup and 600 packets of exol-5 tablets. Similarly, operatives in Bauchi state on Saturday 31st August arrested two suspects: Garba Muhammed, 35; and Usman Yakubu Shehu, 31,
along Bauchi-Gombe road while transporting 308 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4kg, concealed in false compartment of a J5 bus marked Edo state URM 38 ZY.

In the same vein, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to members of Amankwu community, Ohafia LGA, Abia state; WADA advocacy visit to the Vice Chancellor, University of Delta, Prof. Stella Chiemeka, Agbor, Delta state; WADA sensitisation lecture to members of Down Luggere community, Jimeta, Yola North LGA, Adamawa state; youths at the ‘Save the Children Campaign’ annual holiday camp at Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state; youths during their summer class at Olubadan stadium, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo state and WADA advocacy visit to Central Bank, Kaduna office, Kaduna state.

In his response to the latest seizures and arrests, Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended all the officers and men of PHPC, Tincan and the Special Operations Unit of the Agency that had been working on the targeted containers for their vigilance and professionalism.

He equally praised the support received from other stakeholders at the ports that enabled the seamless and successful operations in the course of targeting the shipments. He also applauded operatives in Lagos, Niger, Bauchi and PHIA as well as other Commands across the country for their diligence and balance in their drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction efforts.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has approved special promotion for eight officers of the Marine Command of the Agency for their brave and professional conduct during a recent operation to arrest drug traffickers and interdict canoes and boats moving illicit drugs from Ghana to Nigeria through the Lagos waterways.

Speaking at a brief ceremony to decorate the eight officers with their new ranks and also hand them commendation letters at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday 29th August 2024, Marwa said “every time we have a breakthrough, it tells the world a story about the new NDLEA we are working hard to build. It also reinforces our conviction as an organisation that we are on the right track. So, an occasion such as this is a source of pride for me.”

Justifying the essence of the special promotion and commendation, the NDLEA boss said “In this case, we have officers who exhibited bravery and an unwavering sense of duty in the face of adversity on the waterways to thwart an attempt by a criminal gang to smuggle 60 jumbo bags of illicit drugs from a neighbouring country. Despite obvious attempts to thwart our interdiction bid, our officers were resilient and prevailed over the situation. It is in recognition of their gallantry that they are given special promotion and we are holding this ceremony to decorate them. This is keeping with our culture of rewarding hard work, results and sacrifice.”

He said the reward scheme is also part of the sweeping reforms he instituted in the past three years to motivate officers to raise their performance level. “Under this scheme, we have instituted the bi-annual Command Awards and Commendation as well as special promotion for deserving officers, among other measures. I must say that the eight officers I will be decorating shortly showed bravery and dedication to duty and are deserving of a reward.”

While recapping the details of the particular operation, Marwa said “on the 23rd of August 2024, the Special Marine Squad received actionable intelligence at 3am.

“They immediately swung into action and intercepted a boat along Alfa beach, in Lekki, Lagos. Another boat was equally sighted.

“They however faced some unfavourable encounter in the process of intercepting the second boat, but in the face of violent provocation, our officers did not lose focus, as they went ahead to recover the exhibits.

“They were able to seize 60 bags of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 2, 400 kgs. They successfully arrested a suspect, Hambo Tete, 30, who is Ghanaian and impounded the exhibit boat powered by three outboard engines. The action of these officers in the night was significant for two reasons.

“First, it is an affirmation that we have been successful at making the normal trafficking routes through the airport and land borders impenetrable. Hence, traffickers seeking alternative routes are trying to turn to the waterways.

“The second significance is that such traffickers will meet their Waterloo even on the waterways because of the presence of our Marine Command.

“Those who have been following the development in NDLEA are aware that we now have a full-fledged Marine Command with well trained divers. In the recent past months, we have been reinforcing the Command with equipment and training for which we are grateful to the UK Home Office International Operations.

” What this crop of officers did is a loud statement to trafficking organisations that NDLEA will continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure that our waterways are not safe routes for drug traffickers just as the airports, seaports and land borders.”

Addressing the promoted officers and their colleagues across all commands and formations, Marwa charged them on the need “to sustain the momentum of our trajectory and also protect the integrity of our job. That entails that we should be mindful of our actions and activities in the line of duty or off duty.”

“I expect them and every officer not to rest on their oars. There is so much work to do out there, and there are dangers involved.

“As long as we conduct our operations in line with established SOPs, as these officers did, and as long as we don’t compromise our mandate, we shall always prevail, without casualty and without erring in our action”, he added.

The promoted officers include: Dick Aaron Dick; Alabi Mayowa; Gabriel Ubokikwan; Aso Daniel John; Abdul Emmanuel Sule; Ngabolo Victor Sonpano; Jonah Emmanuel Sule and Membe Timipa Gabriel.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the team leader Aaron Dick expressed gratitude to the NDLEA boss for transforming the Agency to an efficient and result-oriented organisation through purposeful and exemplary leadership.

He said the special promotion and commendation will not only motivate him and his colleagues to do more but will equally inspire other personnel of the Agency to be exceptional in the discharge of their duties.