LAGOS, Nigeria — An ex-convict who was released a couple of weeks ago, Tope Adedayo, has been ordered to be remanded in a prison in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, southwest Nigeria.
In a suit filed by the Ekiti State command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria’s ombudsman responsible for eliminating the trafficking of hard drugs in the country, Adedayo, was accused of storming the NDLEA office in the state, demanding to kill two of its officials.
Charge preferred against the accused read: “That you, Tope Adedayo, on October 11, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this court without lawful authority came to NDLEA office at 12, Akinsola Street, off Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti, with dangerous weapons.
“The weapons included a jackknife/kitchen knife and pliers, demanding to see the State Commander of NDLEA and prosecutor Ekiti Command, who have previously jailed him on two occasions to kill them. Thus creating a serious security breach within the office premises and obstructing the officers on legitimate duty,” said Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti.
According to NDLEA Prosecutor, Charles Ugwuja, the accused was caught with dangerous weapons when he stormed the agency’s office in Ekiti State on October 11.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday October 13, ordered the remand of Tope Adedayo, and adjourned the case till Thursday October 20, 2016 for further hearing.
In data obtained from NDLEA by ArmedPolitics, the anti-narcotic agency arrested 4,838 suspected drug traffickers across Nigeria between January to June of 2016 alone. The figure estimates 348 females and 4,490 males.
The source said many of the people arrested were smokers between the ages of 16 and 50, and currently undergoing counseling and rehabilitation in its various rehab centers across Nigeria.
(Reporting by Adedayo Osho; Editing by Robyn Hunter & Dejan S.)
