GANDOLLAR !!!“No one should say shit about my father” – Ganduje’s daughter Fatima

 

Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi is taking very seriously the criticisms targeted at her father after he failed to secure victory for the All Progressives Congress in Edo state.

Governor Ganduje, the head of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign committee in Edo and Ize-Iyamu were floored by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party Godwin Obaseki.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obaseki polled a total of 307, 955 votes to defeat All Progressives Congress’s Osagie Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes.

However, Ganduje became a target of ridicule after he failed to retire Obaseki’s political career and send Wike, the head of the PDP campaign committee, into isolation as he promised.

“We know PDP made Wike their chairman but I assure you, we will isolate Wike in an isolation centre and before he recovers, the election is over,” Ganduje had said.

However, Fatima, the last daughter of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, warned critics against attacking her father.

Fatima said: “I am from Kano state and Oyo state and no matter what you say or think of Ganduje, he is one of the few elected officers who are actually implementing projects. Don’t argue with me, don’t waste your data, just go to KANO STATE and see for yourself.

“The truth is, as Nigerians we should only consider work on ground. No one should say shit about Ganduje unless you have done equal or more work. Simple. He is not from Edo and kano as a state is above many.”

- PM NEWS

Kano anti-graft agency to file corruption charges against Sanusi

 

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has given Muhammad Sanusi II, former Emir of Kano, two days to respond to allegations of land racketeering against him. 

The commission in March, asked Sanusi to appear before it for allegedly ordering the illegal sale of several hectares of land in the state.

The agency said the “proceeds of the sales remitted to the emirate council bank account can be traced to the companies of interest to His Highness”.

TheCable understands that charges will be filed against the former monarch soon, and that the legal processes are in the works.

In a letter dated September 8, the anti-graft agency said it was investigating “the management of pieces of land that were reserved as ‘GANDUN SARKI’ spread in many parts of the state” under the stewardship of the former emir.

It said the the allegations against Sanusi border on sections 22, 23 and 26 of the state law.

“Investigation revealed that all transactions for the sale of the landed properties belonging to the Emirate were done corruptly by the trio of Shehu Muhammad Dankadai (Sarkin Shanu), Sarki Abdullahi Ibrahim (Makaman Kano) and Mustapha Kawu Yahaya (Dan Isan Lapai) purportedly on behalf of Ado Bayero Royal City Trust Fund and allegedly on your instructions,” the letter read.

“Another issue that needs clarification from you is that at its 4th sitting dated the 8th June 2016, the Kano Emirate Council refused to approve the request to pay a foreign consultant (Messer Apple One Integrated Resources) the sum of N175,000,990.90 but you allegedly instructed the above mentioned trio and members of Ado Bayero Royal City Trust Fund to directly without even channeling the proceed from the site and services programme of Darmanawa Phase II to the Emirate Council account and the sum was given to Dan Isan Lapai by the company handling the project of City Scape Properties Ltd. based on your alleged instruction for the settlement of the said consultant and another N220 Million for an undisclosed entity.

“Moreover, the proceeds of the sales were N225 Million from Countrywide House Ltd. in respect of Darmanawa Phase II 20 hectres, out of which N266 Million was moved on 1st August, 2018 to Kano Emirate Council account upon which an instruction for the transfer of N185,163,996.02 to a private entity Harara Turnkey Project Ltd. on 6th August, 2018 was issued and the transfer was effected on 7th August, 2018. That, out of the same fund the sum of N147,590, 000 was moved to a personal account belonging to one Sani Hamisu Umar between 8-10 August, 2018 in four tranches of N32 Million, 46 Million Naira, 32 Million Naira, 48 Million Naira and N3.590 Million Naira respectively.

“Similarly, on 16th December, 2016 the sum of N70, 0000,000 was deposited to the account of Harara Turnkey Project Ltd. which was subsequently transferred to Majeeda Farms Ltd. on the same day. The said company allegedly belonged to you and that it is being managed by your younger brother and Principal Private Secretary (PPS) in the person of Mujitaba Abba.

“Investigation further revealed that such entities afterward channeled the proceed back into your personal account No. 2666482899 at First Bank an act which contravened Sections 22 and 23 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2668 (as amended). For example, Sani Hamisu Umar transferred N91,303,000 to your account on 25th October, 2018 on 10 trenches. Also, on the 9th of November, 2018 transferred the sum of N2 1,500, 000 on 3 trenches to your account.

“This Commission has been waiting for your response to our invitation after the ruling vacating the Interim Order of the Federal High Court directing it to maintain status quo in relation to the invitation extended to you for clarification of these issues.

“The Commission therefore deemed it appropriate in the spirit of fair hearing to invite your attention to respond to the allegations raised on this letter and the surrounding circumstances, especially the relationship with the corporate and individuals entities involved.

“We expect your response within a reasonable time not later than two working days from the time of the service of this letter.”

-THECABLE

Police announce recovery of more 23 dead bodies of victims of Ebonyi river accident

 

Ebonyi State Police Command on Sunday announced the recovery of more dead bodies of victims who plunged into a river in Ebonyi State.

The command in a statement signed and forwarded to DAILY POST in Abakaliki by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Loveth Odah, said the dead body of a police officer, one CSP Livinus Mbah Rtd, was among those recovered.

The command noted that ten more dead bodies are yet to be recovered from the river.

Recall that the accident took place three days ago along Afikpo/Ivo Federal Road.

The accident involved a coaster’s bus, which was conveying 32 persons returning from a burial at Edda in Afikpo South LGA but plunged into Ivo River while trying to overtake a truck.

The statement reads: “An update of the fatal motor accident at Ivo River in Ivo LGA of the State, three more corpses have been recovered among them is lifeless body of CSP Livinus Mbah Rtd, making a totally number of twenty three (23) victims.

“The corpses have been deposited at Martha Memorial Hospital Afikpo for preservation. Efforts are on to recover the remaining 10 persons,” the command noted.

- DAILY POST

REALLY ? Atiku: Obaseki’s victory marks end of godfatherism in Nigeria

 

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says the emergence of Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the Edo state governorship election signals the end of godfatherism in Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Obaseki, incumbent governor of Edo and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the election.

Obaseki secured 307,955 votes across 18 local government areas to defeat Osagie Ize-Iyamu, his closest rival and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 223,619 votes.

The loggerheads between Obaseki and Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of APC, in the build-up to the election, had spawned into a crisis in the state chapter of the party.

The governor defected to the PDP after the APC disqualified him from contesting in the party’s primary election.

Obaseki alleged that Oshiomhole was angry with him because refused to be used in his (Oshiomhole’s) plan to become godfather in the state.

Failing to settle the dispute, Oshiomhole threw his weight behind Ize-Iyamu and vowed to see to it that Obaseki is defeated at the poll.

Reacting to Obaseki’s victory in a statement posted on his official social media pages, Atiku said there is a new dawn in Edo state, adding that “no victory could be sweeter than that this”.

“There is a new dawn in Edo State, and the hard-won victory of Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki is not just a victory, but a Declaration of Independence from the anti-democratic forces of godfatherism and militarism,” he said.

“No victory could be sweeter than this, and I heartily congratulate the Governor and the good people of Edo state for their resilience in the face of the forces arrayed against them.

“Edo has a rich history as the centre of Black civilisation, and to this, she is adding a new record as the bastion of Nigerian democracy. This double whammy of ancient and modern glories is a testament to a people who have for centuries set the pace as a beacon of light on the African continent.

“I most heartily congratulate the Peoples Democratic Party, who stood shoulder to shoulder, with the people of Edo and their Government, in good times and bad. We in the PDP have shown that we are not fair-weather friends to the good people of Edo. In good times, we will walk beside you. In bad times, we will be your loyal ‘comrade’. We will never be a turncoat. We will never abandon the principles we once espoused so that we can dine with our nemesis. Democracy has no nemesis. And this, the PDP has again proved.”

Atiku thanked Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, for the “fatherly role he played as a neutral catalyst for peace”.

According to him, “that this election was, by and large, free from violence, is a testament of the long and effective shadow he casts over his domain”.

The former vice-president called on the people of Ondo to emulate those of Edo in the forthcoming October 10 election by rejecting “the forces of despotism, nepotism, and

“And to the good people of Ondo state, my message to you is that freedom from the oppressive grasp of godfathers and external forces that seek to dominate your will and eviscerate your treasury, is possible. Edo has done it. You can do it too!” he said.

“There is a new wind of democratic change now blowing all over Nigeria. The forces of despotism, nepotism, and interlopers cannot successfully withstand this force. Nigeria shall soon be totally free from these forces, from Kaura Namoda, to Lagos. The only power that will stand in Nigeria is people power, not the power of godfathers, or despots.”

- THECABLE

Chelsea to announce Mendy’s signing next week

 

Chelsea are set to announce the signing of goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, from Rennes next week.

This was revealed by respected Italian sports journalist, Fabrizio Romano, via his Twitter account on Sunday evening.

Romano tweeted, “Edouard Mendy to Chelsea is 100% done and also signed.

“The announcement will be on next week.”

Meanwhile, Rennes manager, Julien Stephan, on Saturday confirmed that Mendy will join Chelsea.

Stephan said: “We are looking for a goalkeeper, it is no secret.

“Edouard will certainly leave us to join Chelsea.

“In this position, we need to get someone in very quickly. I can’t give you names as there is nothing definitive.”

- DAILY POST

Obafemi Martins joins Chinese club Wuhan Zall FC

 

Former Newcastle star and Nigerian international, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins has joined Chinese club, Wuhan Zalln FC.

The 35-year-old joined Wuhan Zallan as a free agent two months after leaving Shangai Shenhua.

The experienced Nigerian footballer has had spells in Inter Milan, Newcastle, Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Seattle Sounders FC, Shangai Shenhua, and now Wuhan Zallan.

Martins addition to the Chinese Super League side is expected to add quality and depth to the club’s attacking option.

While Martins played in Europe, he scored a total of 72 goals in 239 appearances. Obafemi also played in the American Major League Soccer (MLS), scoring 40 goals in 72 appearances.

Wuhan Zallan FC, Obafemi’s new team currently sits at fourth position on the Chinese Super League Group B table with 16 points in 11 games.

- PM NEWS

80 percent of staff of Ministry for Education working with forged certificates – Niger Govt

 

The Niger State Government has revealed that 80 per cent of staff of the State Ministry for Education are allegedly working with forged certificates from the state-owned College of Education, COE, Minna.

This development came to public glare, due to the ongoing screening of all staff of the state workforce.

The screening committee during the exercise, discovered that 80 per cent staff of the ministry have been working over the years with fake certificates obtained the state-owned College of Education, COE.

It was gathered that the mastermind of the certificate racketeering of the COE has been nabbed the State Police Command over the issue.

It was gathered that the masterminds of the certificate racketeering of the COE have been nabbed the State Police Command over the issue.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Screening Committee and state Commissioner for Works, Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Panti, told journalists in Minna that the five members of staff of COE fingered in the forged certificates scandal have offered useful information the Police as investigations were on to unraveling more on the issue.

He said, ” The suspected printer had admitted during interrogation that he had printed and sold out unspecified number of such fake Certificates to many students which they have used and still using to secure employment within and outside the state.”

The Commissioner stated that most of the culprits in the fake certificates scam could neither write their names correctly nor communicate in simple English language.

He also disclosed that all the culprits have already been sacked and will be replaced as soon as possible with those having genuine Certificates.

“All the vacancies are going to be filled with people with genuine Certificates.

“The essence of the Screening is to determine the actual staff strength of our workers and block all wastages through over bloated salaries,” Panti said.

The chairman further revealed that the Committee members have received several threats from some faceless persons suspected to be part of those involved, warning, “we will not be deterred in concluding the assignment given to us by the state government.”

- DAILY POST

PRO-CORRUPTION REGIME !!! Malami plots to make EFCC toothless bulldog, SERAP alerts Buhari

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to jettison the proposed amendment to the act establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as it will render the agency a toothless bulldog or tiger.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in an open letter to Buhari on Sunday said the proposed executive bill, being pushed by Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, will severely undermine the EFCC independence.

The organisation cited the alarm by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption headed by Professor Itse Sagay, about the bill.

Sagay last week raised concerns that “the government is pushing a bill to amend the EFCC Act, 2004, which will demolish the anti-corruption infrastructure of Nigeria, and confer an enormous power of control of the anti-graft agency on the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.”

SERAP, in its letter signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, concurred with Sagay.

“The bill, which is apparently designed to undermine the independence, integrity and freedom of action of anti-corruption agencies, ignores the seriousness of grand corruption and its impact on Nigerians’ human rights, the rule of law, principles of good governance, development, as well as the threat corruption poses to the country’s constitutional order.”

According to SERAP: “By pushing to turn the EFCC into a department in the Federal Ministry of Justice, and effectively bring it under the control of the Attorney General; and to subject the appointment of the agency’s head to the approval of the Directorate of State Security, your government would seem to indicate that it is not interested in combating corruption and halting its putrefying effects.”

Should the proposed bill become law, SERAP promised to pursue legal action in the public interest, and to ensure that anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria can operate independently and effectively.”

“SERAP contends that Nigeria’s constitutional and international legal obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone inevitably create a duty on your government to establish independent and efficient anti-corruption mechanisms.”

“This bill is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”

“SERAP notes that corruption threatens the injunction that government must be accountable, responsive and open; that public administration must not only be held to account but must also be governed by high standards of ethics, efficiency and must use public resources in an economic and effective manner.”

“Under the proposed bill, the limited independence that the EFCC enjoys will be substantially undermined, as the commission will now effectively become a body of the executive government, thus creating heightened risk of political interference in the work of the commission.”

“The government would seem to be secretly pushing the proposed bill to amend the EFCC Act, as there is no public consultation or public hearing regarding the contents of the bill.”

“Specifically, section 15 subsection (5) of the Constitution requires your government to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

“Similarly, articles 6 and 36 of the UN Convention against Corruption require your government to ensure the existence of an anti-corruption body specialised in preventing corruption and combating corruption through law enforcement which must be granted the necessary independence and be able to carry out its functions effectively and without any undue influence.”

“Section 11 of this proposed bill provides that nobody may be appointed or seconded to the new Agency being proposed, unless he is first screened by the Directorate of State Security and approved by the said Agency. Under the proposed Act the Annual Report of the EFCC is not to be submitted to the National Assembly until it has been passed through the Attorney-General for onward transmission to the National Assembly.’”

- PM NEWS

Why I didn’t allow Messi leave Barcelona – Bartomeu

 

FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said he couldn’t let Messi leave Barcelona because he guarantees success and the team needs him.

The embattled president also noted that he does not wish to have any more disputes with the club captain after the Argentine reluctantly opted to stay at the club this month after failing to force through a move.

“I won’t get into any conflict with him. He’s our captain and the leader of our team,” Bartomeu said before the team’s 1-0 friendly win over Elche on Saturday.

“I couldn’t let him leave the club. He is the best player of all time and the team needs him. Having Messi is a guarantee of success.”

Messi had complained earlier this month that Bartomeu had not fulfilled a promise to allow him to break his contract unilaterally and leave the club without a transfer fee.

He had also lashed out at the president’s leadership.

But Bartomeu chose not to fire back against Barca’s all-time top goalscorer.

Instead, he praised Messi for turning a page and performing well in the team’s pre-season matches, including scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Girona last week.

“We have seen him do his talking on the pitch and we have moved on from the saga,” Bartomeu added. 

“We should congratulate ourselves for getting Messi to stay with us and for how he has behaved in the last few days. The best player in the world should stay at our home.”

Bartomeu has been in the firing line ever since Barca’s historic 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last month.

He came under renewed pressure after a campaign group gathered over 20,000 signatures from members to force a vote of no-confidence against him.

In compliance with the club’s statutes, Barca are currently validating the votes and if over 16,520 are approved, then a referendum will be held in the next three months.

Two-thirds of 150,000 members are needed to vote against Bartomeu to force his dismissal.

Yet Bartomeu, who will be leaving the role after elections in March regardless of what happens with the motion of censure, ruled out resigning.

“The board and I will keep working to ensure we have the most competitive team possible,” he said.

“We will speak again after validating the votes, but right now no one wants to quit. The club won’t stop and we will keep working, we have lots of issues to sort out.”

- PM NEWS

Lady abducted, raped by three boys who promised her job

Abductors of a 24 years old lady in Awka, Anambra State have been arrested by the Anambra Police.

The young lady was abducted from Awka, Anambra State capital by a three-man syndicate who promised to get her a job, as a makeup artist.

The syndicate reportedly lured the lady from Awka to Abba junction, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, where she was abducted and taken to an uncompleted building.

DAILY POST gathered that she was kept in captivity for a week and raped repeatedly by the syndicate, even after extorting the sum of N400,000 from her relatives.

Haruna Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police and the Spokesperson of Anambra State Police Command while confirming the incident said the men have been arrested.

He said, “Today (Saturday), at about 2:pm, police operatives attached to the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) arrested Ekwugha Innocent Chinazo ‘m’ aged 25years of Awkuzu, Chidiebere Ogoegbunam ‘m’ aged 24years of Egbu Awkuzu and David Nnaemeka ‘m’ aged 19years of same address.

“The suspects had on the 13/9/2020 (last Sunday) lured a 24 years old lady residing at St Michael hostel, Unizik Temporary site, Awka under the pretext of securing her a beauty make up job.

“They picked her up at Ukpo junction along Enugu- Onitsha Expressway and took her to an isolated building at Awkuzu where they allegedly raped the victim repeatedly while in captivity for two days despite collecting a ransom of four hundred thousand Naira(#400,000) from her relatives.

“The suspects have voluntarily confessed to the crime and the victim was taken to the hospital for medical examination.

Investigations are still ongoing after which suspects would be brought to book,” he said.

- DAILY POST 

CDD: Vote buying, voter inducement characterised Edo election

 

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says the governorship election in Edo state was characterised by massive vote buying and voter inducement.

The election observer group also indicted law enforcement agents for failing to arrest and prosecute political actors who engaged in vote buying.

The CDD’s position is contained in its preliminary findings on the election, released on Saturday in Abuja, and signed by Idayat Hassan, the organisation’s director.

“CDD observers reported cases where tickets were also given in lieu of cash for voters to vote and then return to use the ticket for collection of the cash. In several other cases, as reported by our observers, cash of between N1,000 and N5,000 was distributed to voters who agreed to cast their ballot for the party paying for the vote,” she said.

“Vote buying was widespread in this election. For instance, CDD observers reported seeing voters discreetly exchanging their voters’ cards with money from party agents at polling unit 8, ward 2 of Okpon area of Ovia south-west, Benin. It was a similar case in Etsako central, ward 1, units 5 and 6 where voters sold their votes for N1,000.

“CDD observers reported that law enforcement officials largely looked the other way while vote buying was going on. No efforts whatsoever were made to bring to book the perpetrators of these acts, which corrupt the electoral process.

“The brazen manner with which votes were bought and sold in the open calls to question the relevance of the over 30,000 police officers deployed to enforce the law during the election. CDD is concerned that despite expending time and resources to deploy thousands of law enforcement officials to the electoral space, the officers did nothing in the face of infractions such as vote buying.”

According to the report, there were pockets of violence in some wards which disrupted the election.

“In Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha LGA, for example, one person was reported to have been shot while in Ihomwonde LGA, ward 5, PU 1, 2, and 3, voting process was reported not totally peaceful as conflicts erupted amongst party agents that resulted to disruption of the process. In Egor LGA, electoral materials were allegedly hijacked in ward 9, unit 15 by political thugs who are hell-bent to subvert the electoral process.

“CDD observers also reported an incident of shooting in Orhionmwon Local Government Area. Party agents were also major drivers of violence in areas with incidents as they engaged in altercations, which later snowballed into fisticuffs.”

- THECABLE

Another leader of ‘One Million Boys’, Eji arrested in Ibadan

 

The second in command to the late Abiola Ebila, the leader of the notorious One Million boys in Ibadan, has been arrested and currently facing trial.

Ebila was recently killed by the men of Operation Burst at Ibadan when he was reported to be involved in a kidnap ring and security personnel rounded him up at his hideout.

The second in command, popularly known as ‘Eji’ has assumed leadership of the gang before being arrested for sundry criminal offenses and handed over to the police for trial.

Eji’s arrest was confirmed on Saturday by the Director-General of Oyo State Joint Security Task Force, popularly known as ‘Operation Burst’, Col. Oladipo Ajibola rtd.

Col. Ajibola said the security outfit has rid Ibadan of the menace of the notorious gang as the rest of them have run out of the State to seek cover in Lagos and other States.

“Operation Burst has been able to reduce criminality in Oyo State, people now go about doing their businesses without fear, we have effected a lot of arrests in relation to cultism, yahoo boys and other criminals and hand them over to the right security agency concerned, the high profile among the criminal cases was Abiola Ebila.

“Abiola Ebila, the leader of one million boys was involved in kidnapping and we got him through one of the personalities he kidnapped while he was asking for ransom, the elimination of Abiola Ebila has sent other gang leaders out of Oyo State and we are still trailing those who are their minions.

“We have succeeded in getting one of them recently who was the second in command to the late Ebila, we handed him over to another security agency for proper investigation and prosecution and we urge the general public to avail the security agencies prompt information to nip criminality in the bud.”

He noted that Operation Burst’s activities have been extended to the hot spots in Ibadan, among which were Foko, Odo Oba, Olomi Olodo, Oke-Ogun zone and Oyo State in general, adding that the outfit’s Call Center for distress calls would soon be commissioned.

He explained that the mode of operation Burst was to only swing into action in cases that other security agencies require strong backup force, citing the arrest of drug traffickers, kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists and others and handing the culprits over to the agency saddled by law to prosecute each crime.

He, however, appreciated the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde for doing his best by providing the needed mobility, accessories, and other support.

He called on parents to watch over their children and counsel them on morality as they resume back to school on Monday, saying that parents should be inquisitive and always have the trust of their wards so they could confide in them whenever they were involved in any danger or invited to join cultism.

- PM NEWS

School Collapse: Sanwo-Olu orders integrity test on school buildings above 2 floors

 

Sequel to the collapse of a school building in Ejigbo in the early hours of Saturday, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has directed the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to carry out integrity tests on both public and private schools with buildings of 3 floors and above.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako disclosed that the Governor gave this directive at a press briefing in the State House later on Saturday.

Salako stated that the move became necessary in order to ascertain the structural integrity of all school buildings above 2 floors with a view to preventing future re-occurrence of school building collapse in the State.

The Commissioner assured that the Ministry would swing into action in earnest so as to actualise the State Government’s aim of saving lives and property, especially as schools resume after a long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He explained further that the Ministry would soon come up with the guidelines and procedure for the integrity test on public and private schools whose buildings fall within the stated range.

- DAILY POST

NDLEA: Drug test before marriage not for ladies only

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it was misquoted regarding the conduct of drug tests for intending couples.

Mohammed Mustapha Abdalla, NDLEA chairman, was quoted to have said in August that the agency was considering conducting drug test for single ladies.

The move, Abdalla said, was due to the increase in the rate of drug addiction among girls and married women across the country.

But in a statement on Saturday, Jonah Achema, NDLEA head of public affairs, said Abdalla was quoted out of context.

He explained that the agency did not single out ladies for the drug integrity test, but intended it for the couple.

“For the avoidance of doubt, what the chairman said was that as an extension of drug integrity test policy in public service, NDLEA is also considering partnering with the religious leaders,” Achema said.

“This consideration is to make drug test a prerequisite for marriage in churches and mosques as in the case of HIV/AIDs and Genotype tests.

“It, therefore, smacks of cheap chauvinism of one to manipulate statement meant for intending couples to mean ladies, as if ladies is a generic term for the marriage institution or intending couple.

“Making it a women affair is trivialising the issue and trying to engender discrimination, which is far from the intention of the gender friendly NDLEA.”

Achema explained that targeting the family for effective drug control was not debatable, as most drug problems complicate the family institution, leading to broken homes and poor parenting.

He added that it was the dutiful thinking of NDLEA to involve religious organisations to engage intending couples to ascertain their drug use status.

- THECABLE