We are not afraid to arrest notable people in drug business - NDLEA boss

August 28, 2020

By Ijendu Iheaka

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said it is not afraid of arresting notable people in drug business but required information to tackle them.

The agency however urged Nigerians who have useful information on drug dealers in high places to avail them of the information to enable them take appropriate steps.

The Chairman, Chief Executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd) said this in Aba, Abia on Friday while speaking to newsmen.

Abdallah who disclosed this during the Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits by NDLEA by Abia office at Ogbor Hill, said burns drugs to get them out of reach of miscreants.

He said that 9, 110.252 kilograms of drugs made up of 6,574.116 of Cannabis, 10.81 of Heroin, 8,932 of Cocaine, and 2,526.394 of psychotropic substances were destroyed in the exercise.

He said that Abia is one of the most enterprising states in the South East adding that the authorities should ensure the state is not threatened by hard drugs.

 

“This is in the view of the fact that manpower is often depleted by drug dependence while the get-rich-quick syndrome leads productive persons into criminal enterprise illicit trafficking in in drugs”, he said. 

Abdallah thanked Abia government for supporting efforts of NDLEA through the office of Special Adviser to the Governor on Drugs and Narcotics and creation of State Drug Control Committee.

He also appreciated the efforts of Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu’s Vicar Hope Foundation, Mrs Althea Nwele’s Advocacy for Veritas Addiction, Daniel Nwankwo Foundation and Youth Against Substance Abuse (YASA) in fighting drug dependence.

He further commended the support of the Directorate of State Security, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the state.

Abia’s Governor Okezie Ikpeazu represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu said that the world is challenged by the dynamism of living which had displaced many aspects of society.

He said the menace of hard drugs leaves the societies undeveloped through terrorism, organized armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping, rape wanton destruction of lives and property and other crimes.

Ikpeazu said that through drugs, many youths have been dislocated, rejected and disillusioned in life with unquantifiable damage to society.

He however said that although there was much effort to totally rid the society of hard drugs, such efforts were yet to yield the desired results.

The governor said that the burning of the drugs showed Abia’s commitment to entrench sanity in the state through fighting hard drugs consumption.

He promised that the state will not relent in supporting NDLEA in fighting hard drug consumption and to ensure a hard drug free society.

The Abia NDLEA Commander, Bamidele Akingbade said that this public destruction of drugs is unprecedented being the first of its kind in the state.

He said the burning of the over 9 tons of hard drugs showed NDLEA’s  commitment and success against drug war in Abia.

He said that apart from White-Collar crimes, all other crimes are connected to hard dug consumption which makes it necessary for all to fight the scourge.

Akingbade appreciated the state government and NGOs that have contributed in the drug fight and asked for more support in the war in the days ahead.

Alleged inhuman treatment: We are open to investigations, Inner Galaxy Group says

August 21, 2020

By Ijendu Iheaka

Inner Galaxy Group,  owners of a Steel rolling mill in Abia on Friday, said they were open to investigations because they fear no indictment.

The group called on all employees, both former and current to also appear and testify to allegations of staff maltreatment when the federal government’s public hearing on their activities begin soon.

The company located in Umuahala, Obuzor Asa in Ukwa West local council area of Abia, stated this through its lawyer, Mr Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaiwe on premises of the company, while addressing journalists, who were on visit to their facilities.

Nwokocha-Ahaiwe said the group has not in any way infringed on the rights of Nigerians, stressing that the company had been living up to its expectations in Corporate Social Responsibility.

The lawyer said that since its registration and commencement of business in 2012 and 2015, there has been no petition against the company anywhere in Nigeria.

He therefore advised anyone with complaints against the company to come to the public hearing to defend such petition.

This blog reports that the allegations against the company include, keeping workers in inhabitable enclosures, sexual molestation and physical abuse of women and men.

Others include, locking up workers in the company and denying them chance to go home during the COVID-19 lockdown.

A Twitter handle @Truthfully83 had on August 12 post alleged that the company refused to compensate its injured workers adding that tje State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu knew of the abuses in the company, but did not take any action.

Findings from the company however, showed that they paid for the treatment of two injured staffs, namely: Elohor Edehor and Amos Teseer.

Elohor Edehor’s foot was injured on Friday, March 31, 2017, and so was amputated and treated for N1.8 millions, while Amos Teseer, who sustained burn injuries on April 18, 2017 was treated with N6.7 million.

Nwokocha-Ahaiwe said Teseer was compensated following an agreement they would not disclose, while they are in court with Elohor over terms of planned compensation which he rejected.

He said there was nothing happening in Inner Galaxy Group of companies that does not happen in other companies in Nigeria, adding that racism should not be brought into the matter.

The Group Managing Director of the company, Mr Andy Lu, said they did everything possible to ensure their employees kept their jobs during the COVID-19 period.

He said that the huge sums invested by the company from far away China in Nigeria confirms their commitment to making lives better here.

Lu noted that the company was doing much to fulfill its CSR obligations which makes it a responsible corporate citizen.

Cynthia Nwabueze and Lotachukwu Uzoma, staff of the company said its management’s relationship with them is good and commendable and does not prove the allegations against the company.