Hails Buhari, others for agency’s progress
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), yesterday, called for removal of the clause that allows the option of fine for drug offenders from the agency’s Act, saying the move will strengthen war against illicit drugs.
Marwa stated this in his remarks, while defending the 2022 NDLEA budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics chaired by Senator Hezekiah Dimka.
The NDLEA boss said though he had visited the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho, on the issue of ridiculous options of fine given to some drug traffickers, he believed the removal of the clause, which allows judges use discretionary powers to give options of fine, would solve the jigsaw.
Defending the N38.1 billion proposal, Marwa said although it might not solve all the problems facing the agency, he believed it is a great improvement on previous budgets.
He added: “We want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari, the Finance Minister, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as the leadership of the National Assembly and this esteemed Committee on Drugs and Narcotics for giving us all the support we need to make the progress being talked about today.”
Earlier, Dimka congratulated Marwa “for the successes recorded by the agency since his assumption of office”, stressing: “There is no doubt that his approach and manner of operations in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse on our shores are extraordinary.”
Other members of the committee, including the Vice Chairman, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, expressed support for the work NDLEA is doing and promised to enhance and pass the budget to enable the agency achieve greater feats next year.
Source: Guardian.ng