Ekiti club charges NDLEA to fish out drug dealers, patrons

– EFCC, agency mull partnership over money laundering, substance abuse

Inland Club of Ekiti has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to comb the state’s flashpoints where illicit drugs and banned substances are sold to youths in the state and arrest the culprits.

The club boasts of personalities such as the deputy governor, Bisi Egbeyemi; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Youths, Yemi Adaramodu; Ekiti State Commissioner for Works, Sola Adebayo; Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Sola Fatoba (a federal lawmaker), among other distinguished Ekiti men as members.

At a press conference marking the 60th anniversary of the club in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the president, Boye Adeoye, said that drug and substance abuse had a close link with upsurge in crime rate.

According to him, most crimes are perpetrated with the use of illicit drugs and substances sold to criminals at various places in the state capital.

He urged the NDLEA to fish out the vendors of these drugs and their patrons, to reduce crime rate and mental disorder in the society.

The group advised the agency to beam its searchlights on flashpoints like Atikankan and Ojumose areas, where Indian hemp and other prohibited drugs were hawked freely and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Adeoye appealed to the youths to shun drugs and crime and engage rather in sporting activities.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and NDLEA have expressed readiness to foster strategic partnerships to better help in their respective mandates.

This was the tone of discussion between leaders of the two agencies when the new Oyo State commander of NDLEA, Josephine Obi, visited the Ibadan Zonal Head of EFCC, Friday Ebelo, at her office yesterday.

While explaining how NDLEA was preparing its staff for the envisaged relationship, Mrs. Obi disclosed that the agency was raising an elite team of officers for training on money laundering.

“I tell my officers to always look out for evidence of money laundering. They shouldn’t just be after the drugs. The agency itself is now emphasising on money laundering.

“Our men are receiving plenty of training on money laundering. Some of them have gone on training on the financial investigation. We have a lot to do together,” she said.

Responding, Ebelo noted that the two agencies had more areas of convergence in their statutory mandates.

This, according to him, is heavier on areas of terrorism financing and money laundering.

Obi was accompanied to the EFCC office by some senior officers in her command.