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Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) flanked by Robert Bascoe (l) and Alex Menez of the US embassy in Nigeria during the commissioning of a facility donated by the US government to the NDLEA in Lagos on Tuesday 7th January 2025.
.As US govt donates facility to agency in Lagos
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has said that the steady operational successes being recorded by the anti-narcotic body in its drug supply and demand reduction efforts will continue to justify the support and assistance it is getting from the United States government, other partners and stakeholders.
Marwa stated this at the commissioning of central exhibit office donated by the US government to NDLEA at the Agency’s headquarters annex in Ikoyi Lagos on Tuesday 7th January 2025.
The facility was handed over to the NDLEA boss by the US Consulate General, Ms. Jo Ellen Georg, supported by other senior US officials.
While commending the United States government as a reliable ally in Nigeria’s renewed efforts to combat drug-related crimes, Marwa said the continued collaboration with the US has been infinite, bolstered and enhanced NDLEA’s operational capabilities.
According to him, “Today, I am particularly pleased to acknowledge one of such gestures, namely the donation of the office for our central exhibit custodians. This donation acknowledges the critical need for efficient and secure handling of evidence, which is essential for the successful prosecution of drug-related cases. This contribution will not only strengthen our operational framework but also set a new standard for accountability and transparency in drug law enforcement. It is an investment in the security and the future of our nations.”
He said despite the Agency’s improved performance, “we recognise that the war against drug trafficking and abuse is far from over. As an organisation, we are committed to surmounting the challenges.”
The NDLEA boss said the challenges notwithstanding, tremendous successes have been recorded on all fronts against the drug menace.
His words, “So far, the results have been justifying. In 2024, we seized over 2.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs. Across the country, we arrested more than 18,500 drug trafficking offenders. Got over 3,250 convicted, including 10 drug barons, with more than 220 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed, while in the same breath we counselled and rehabilitated over 8, 200, with more than 3,000 sensitisation and advocacy programmes organized across the country in schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres, work places and communities, among others, thus creating an equipoise between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”
While calling for continuous support and more collaboration from the US government and other partners, Marwa said the challenges of illicit drugs are dynamic and multifaceted, and as such require continuous partnership and innovation. “That is why we are pragmatic in our unending quest for further support from our international partners, key stakeholders and public-spirited persons. We seek intervention in critical areas such as capacity building and enhanced training for our officers, provision of technology and equipment, especially for advanced surveillance and tracking, intelligence and information sharing and provision of operational logistics”, he added.
He commended the American people for their support and magnanimity over the years.
“Our shared goal remains the protection of lives and the promotion of a safer, healthier world. As Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, I pledge our commitment to accountability, transparency, and the effective utilisation of the resources entrusted to us. I assure you that every donation inspires confidence in the agency and, by extension, inspires resilience, hardwork and dedication among our workforce.”
He specifically thanked the US DEA attaché in Nigeria, Mr. Robert Bascoe, whose untiring efforts and commitment made the donation and several others a reality even as he expressed gratitude to the United States Africa Command and the US Embassy for their invaluable partnership.
In her remarks, the US acting Consul General, Ms. Jo Ellen Georg said the cornerstone of the relationship between Nigeria and US is premised on the vibrancy of democracy. “It’s a principle deeply embraced by both of our nations. And one of our leaders who helped nurture this deep and enduring partnership between our two countries was former President Jimmy Carter, who, as noted, passed away on December 29th at age 100.
“President Carter was an extraordinary leader, and he dedicated his years in and out of office promoting peace, democracy, health, and human rights. And today, as is customary in the United States, his body is being drawn on a horse carriage to the U.S. Capitol to lie in state so that we can all respect the legacy that he has left for us. And President Carter was actually the first U.S. President to make a state visit to Nigeria.”
She highlighted the significance of the support the US government has been providing for the NDLEA while commending Marwa for taking advantage of such partnership to achieve tremendous results for Nigeria in the fight against illicit drugs.
According to her, “the efforts to fight drug trafficking in Nigeria and across West Africa region have successes because we share the same objective of countering crime, illegal drugs, and instability. Today, as part of our enduring partnership, the U.S. government, through the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, is honoured to hand over a dedicated office space for the NDLEA. This dedicated facility will provide NDLEA officers with a safe and secure office space to conduct investigations, to process arrestees, and to conduct post-arrest interviews.
“Now this donation is the latest example of the robust and productive cooperation between the United States government and the NDLEA. In 2024, the U.S. government invested half a million dollars to modernize and equip the chemical forensic laboratory at the NDLEA zonal office here in Lagos. That upgraded laboratory is now equipped with cutting-edge technology, which enhances the NDLEA’s capacity to analyze suspicious substances and to process evidence from crime scenes and suspects.
“Over the years, our joint efforts have helped to build the capacity of the Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks, to dismantle clandestine meth labs, and to conduct advanced forensic analysis of synthetic drugs. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Nigerian government and its agencies as we continue to combat narcotics to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs, especially synthetic drugs, and that will better both of our societies”, according to a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja.
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A Nigerian man has shocked many after narrating how police officers took possession of ₦3 million meant for a customer.
He revealed that the money was allegedly involved in an accident, and the police took ₦250,000 as their share.
The man shared the ordeal in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter). According to his account, some time ago, the police seized the ₦3 million in cash that was meant for a customer.
After answering several questions to prove the legitimacy of the funds, the police informed him that they could not return the full amount because, as they explained, “the money don get accident.”
After days of negotiations, the police finally agreed to accept ₦250,000 as their share.
His full statement reads: “About two months ago, the police took possession of some money we were sending to a client, ₦3 million in cash. When we got to the station, after answering a series of questions to prove the legitimacy of the cash, the officer asked how much we were willing to forfeit. In his words, ‘Because the money don get accident’ and we couldn’t get the full sum back.”
“It took three days before they agreed to collect ₦250,000.”
He continued: “F**k the police. Exact day, 24.10.2024.”
The man also addressed inquiries about why he didn’t escalate the matter, writing:
“For people asking why I didn’t escalate this, an AIG (Assistant Inspector General) was aware of this money. They took us to the office of the AIG, but they spoke in Igbo. I’m not sure what they discussed, but it’s obvious you people underestimate the police’s ability to twist every case.”
He further explained:
“The reason they held us hostage was because the cash was in new notes. They started saying they needed to involve the EFCC, claiming it was money laundering and questioning why we were doing cash transactions. They said we were selling money.”
“The client was very worried and needed the cash ASAP. After plenty of talks, we had no choice but to give in.”
As the post gained traction, concerned individuals flooded the comment section to share their thoughts on the incident.
See some reactions below:
@MaziAwkaetiti: “Na you get power to dey explain yourself to the Nigerians asking you about escalating. Everyday Nigerians suffer from the police, everyday, some will defend the police by trying to talk down on victims..”
@ObidientsWorld: “What is the name of the AIG, station and officers that extorted you 250,000 naira? Until u show proof, I will be here observing.”
@sabastine_60923: “They spoke in IGBO because you really want to put tribal in between your narrative. Continue but we all know what we are doing.”
@ObidientsWorld: “This tribalistic approach is the reason why Nigerian will continue to suffer, I will keep saying it. They divide U & U further divide urselves. See how u subtly introduce bigotry into your narration. I wonder when u idiots will learn. Why r u scared to name this AIG?”
SEE POST:
Kelly Okungbowa, the chairman of the committee appointed by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to recover vehicles taken by former officials during ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, has recovered three of the 200 vehicles.
According to reports, the committee, which was formed on Thursday in Benin, the state capital, has been given two weeks to complete its task. Okungbowa, speaking to journalists on Friday about the committee’s success within just 24 hours, revealed that the three vehicles recovered included one Hilux van and two Toyota Hiace buses.
In one of the recovered buses, the committee discovered palliatives that should have been distributed to the people of Edo, including 10kg and 25kg bags of garri and rice.
The committee chairman appealed to the public for more information, stating that the tips received so far led to the recovery of the three vehicles. Okungbowa assured potential whistleblowers that they would receive a generous reward, provided their information was accurate and verifiable.
He said, “We have recovered one Hilux and two Toyota Hiace buses in private custody. We assure Edo people and the state government that we are going to do the job to the best of our ability. We will make sure we recover all the stolen vehicles.
“Report reaching us is that we have over 200 government vehicles missing. We appeal for more information as the whistleblowers will be handsomely rewarded.
“This is not private property but the property of Edo citizens, and it is not good for a private individual to steal government property.
“These vehicles were recovered from one person’s house. Palliatives were recovered from the Toyota Hiace bus as some garri and bags of rice were kept in the bus.”
By Aisha Cole
In its ongoing efforts to prevent the smuggling of dangerous drugs into Nigeria, the Apapa Ports Customs Command has seized illicit drugs worth N1.1 billion, concealed in four 40ft containers.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Babatunde Olomu, made this known in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Usman Abubakar, on Wednesday in Lagos.
Olomu revealed that the seized items included 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and Barcadin cough syrup, packed in 2,174 cartons.
Three of the seizures were made at APM Terminals, while the fourth was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Describing the operation as part of the Customs Service’s zero-tolerance policy towards smuggling, Olomu provided details of the confiscations: “On October 11, 2024, during a joint examination of a 40ft container with number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered 34,800 bottles of prohibited CSP cough syrup. These expired bottles, packed in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton, were smuggled into the country.”
He added that another examination on the same day at the same terminal uncovered a 40ft container (TGBU8886020) carrying 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in 100 bottles per carton.
Further inspections conducted on October 15, 2024, led to the discovery of a 40ft container (TCKU6800526), which had been declared as essential goods.
Upon examination, it was found to be concealing 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup, containing codeine in 100ml bottles.
At Kachicares Resources Terminal, another 40ft container (SUDU8579006), falsely declared as containing kitchen wares, was found to hold 1,584 cartons of Barcadin cough syrup.
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In addition, 83 loose bottles were also found concealed within the container.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment to seamless trade facilitation and robust stakeholder engagement, Olomu emphasized that the Apapa Command would maintain its strict enforcement of revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations.
He warned those engaged in unlawful trade to stay away from Apapa Port, stating that the officers, equipped with intelligence, technology, and years of experience, would continue to expose all smuggling attempts.
Highlighting the dangers of codeine abuse, Olomu noted that the substance had been linked to nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, impaired cognitive function, and irrational behavior, including criminal tendencies.
He also reminded the public that the Federal Government had banned the importation of codeine-based cough syrup in 2018 due to its widespread abuse and detrimental effects on young Nigerians.
The comptroller disclosed that further investigations into the seizures were ongoing, with the goal of identifying and apprehending those responsible for the illegal importation of the banned substances.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized large consignments of opioids valued at N22.74 billion across three major seaports.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the agency intercepted 32,607,900 tramadol pills, worth over N12.57 billion, and 1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of N10.16 billion.
The seizures occurred at Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa Seaport in Lagos, and Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State.
The total estimated value of the seized drugs amounts to N22,740,958,000.
Babafemi explained that the illicit opioids consignments were intercepted from containers flagged by NDLEA based on intelligence, and processed for full joint examination with officers from Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between Monday, 7th and Friday, 11th October 2024.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Anambra arrested a suspect, 29-year-old Okelue Chidera, on Saturday, 12th October with 50,000 tablets of tramadol 200mg at Upper Iweka, Onitsha.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West LGA, where 70 bags of the substance weighing 1,050kg were recovered. Another suspect, Monday Akele, 38, was apprehended on Friday, 11th October during a raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East LGA, where an additional 110kg of cannabis was seized.
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Micheal Aondoakaa (SAN), shares his thoughts with DEBORAH MUSA on the seized presidential aircraft, and independence of the judiciary, among other issues
During your tenure as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, what were the most significant legal reforms you pursued and what challenges did you face in implementing them?
Why we vigorously pursued prison decongestion was because the prisons were completely overcrowded and that had to do with human rights violations. We felt it was important to decongest the prison, and we aggressively started by filing briefs to private lawyers to assist us. They go to defend accused persons to decongest the prisons. Also, we granted bail to those who could not meet the bail conditions, some as minor as N100,000 but they couldn’t meet the bail conditions.
Some were offered sentences with an option of fine and the fine was just like N20,000. So, we paid them off because the cost of keeping them was not economical and the state was feeding them three times a day. If somebody is going to stay six months and you are to pay a fine of N20,000 for offences that are not a danger to society, such offences as trespass, we pay the fine to let the people come out. That was one of the challenges.
The next issue was the compliance with judgment debts by the government. It was a very challenging issue. We discovered that a lot of contractors and people had judgments against the government for breach of contracts and most of them borrowed from banks, executed government contracts that the government couldn’t pay, and at the end of the day, some of the banks went into liquidation and they had judgments, especially Armed Forces people who got judgments against them, but they couldn’t go near them for the execution.
So, we paid off such debts. We constituted a presidential committee, and I sought approval from the presidential committee headed by the Solicitor General with representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association, the police, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. We scrutinised those judgments and we paid. We also made sure that all decisions of the courts were contentiously complied with. We don’t need to start looking at whether the judgment was good.
We brought in place a fact that once a court judgment was delivered; if you don’t like it, file an appeal. It’s not for you to stay in your house and say no. These were some of the major reforms because the will of government was driven by the rule of law, and the challenge we had when we said that government should be based on the rule of law was that people said we were protecting criminals.
How will you access the current state of judicial independence in Nigeria?
The people are quick to accuse the judges more on the side of corruption, but I don’t think the corruption is on the side of the judges. The corruption is on the part of the state. When the state intimidates judges… for instance what happened when the DSS invaded the homes of Justices was unthinkable and that was the beginning of the kind of fear that crept into the judiciary, and nobody was held responsible. That was most unfortunate.
You talk of judicial independence; you have a procedure for disciplining judicial officers. If you feel judicial officers have committed an infraction, you send the report as a state. The state can send a petition to the National Judicial Council that this judicial officer has done something wrong. After all, it is the state that appoints them. So, if you feel they are corrupt, then you initiate the process of removal by sending a request for their removal with the allegation to the NJC, and if they find out that the allegation is true, the judge will be removed.
In the night, the Justices’ homes were invaded. That has created fear and has affected the independence of the judiciary more than the corruption they are talking about because the judges now become worried that if they deliver a particular judgment, will they be free, will the DSS come after them? Will other security agencies like the EFCC or ICPC go after them? That’s the main problem.
It’s a bigger problem than any other problem; judicial intimidation. Once the intimidation of the judges is not there and they are allowed to interpret the law, corruption will be reduced. It is more serious than saying judges are corrupt. Corruption is not just the illegal taking of money. If it is about corruption, then it is the state organ that may be corrupting them by intimidating the judges.
You wake up as a judge in the night and you don’t know whether security people are coming after you or not, although it has not happened in this present Tinubu government and it is commendable. I believe the present Attorney General of the Federation will not be a party to that because he is a real law professional just like I was so he won’t condone that kind of aggression of the judges, but the intimidation of judges is supposed to be the main thing we should address. States should allow judges to freely decide without intimidating them.
Corruption has been a persistent issue in Nigeria. How effective do you believe the legal system has been in tackling corruption?
As I said earlier, intimidation of the judges is the main issue. You could see what happened before, you never knew the position of the state in a particular matter, two cases which I will not mention the name went up to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court confirmed the judgments of their sentences, and six months after, they were given a full pardon. So, you can see, it is a subtle way of intimidating the judges.
The country recently experienced a nationwide hardship protest called the #EndBadGovernanace, where some youths trooped out to protest the situation of the economy, and we saw security agencies arrest some of these protesters. What is the legal correctness or otherwise of the arrest of these protesters and the arrest of students from Poland during the protest?
I was not in the country. So, I will not comment on something I was not around to experience. Much that comes online, I am always careful about it because there are a lot of photo tricks, sometimes things happen here but they bring pictures of what is happening in other countries and interiors. So, I am always very cautious, and demonstration is the right of every individual I believe the government said yes, they can demonstrate but I think people who were arrested must have been people who went to the extreme, and the government was trying to balance the issue.
You must have seen what was happening in Kano. It was no longer the demonstration guaranteed by the constitution. So, in such circumstances, unless I see the facts, the government has the right to stop it and I read about those who were vandalising people’s homes, destroying people’s property, the government must protect, and the fundamental principle ensures that the government’s primary duty is to ensure the protection of lives and property where the right to demonstrate is exercised in such a way that it includes the rights and property of other individuals like the destruction that was going on in Kano, where people’s supermarkets were vandalised, destroyed, people’s homes and cars.
A non-violent demonstration is a right created in the constitution, but as an attorney general, if I see people’s supermarkets and other property being destroyed, I have the right also to order security agencies to go there and stop the destruction of lives and property.
What are your thoughts on the Ogun Free Trade Zone dispute with the Chinese company that led to the seizure of the presidential jets?
First and foremost, there have been two treaties, which are a bilateral trade agreement between the Chinese government and the Federal Government and, a 2001 bilateral treaty that Nigeria signed during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. It is still in force between Nigeria and China. Chinese nationals who invest here will be protected and their investment will not be arbitrarily seized by the government. It is the same way they say that Nigerians who invest in China will enjoy protection.
There’s a particular Article 4 of the agreement that indicates that the government cannot just wake up one day and say I am seizing this company, I am terminating this agreement, and in the agreement, they have made provisions for arbitration that in case there is a dispute between the contracting party in this case, Ogun State and the Chinese investor, are to explore diplomatic channel first.
Ogun State cannot go to have diplomatic channels with the Chinese government. The punishment for corruption is death sentence. I wouldn’t know what Ogun State did but then, there’s another procedure for arbitration if Ogun State felt that there was an infraction. There’s another provision in the agreement that says they could go to court. So, Ogun State could have gone to court to terminate the transaction.
Luckily, it was a contractual relationship. So, Ogun State could have gone to the state High Court and said, ‘Terminate this transaction.’ I don’t know whether Ogun State went or not. It was said that the governor terminated the agreement because there were criminal aspects unless those criminal aspects were proven. If they are not proven, then it is a difficult situation for us.
The problem I have with old governments in Nigeria is that when you wake up in an agreement and say that there is criminality, there is a court of law for you to go to because you are a contracting party, and the contracting party is laid by the governor of that state. So, if Ogun State wakes up today and says, ‘I am terminating an agreement’, it means that Ogun State is a judge in its case, but I don’t have facts. I don’t know what Ogun State did.
The agreement is wide and something we should try to avoid in the future. The agreement said there should be three arbitrators, the contracting parties should appoint one and the Chinese people would appoint one. The two appointed arbitrators would appoint the third arbitrator. That was done but unfortunately, the clause for arbitration did not put the seat of arbitration, did not put the place of arbitration. That means that the arbitrators were at liberty to sit wherever they wanted.
The judge has no power to order arrest or compel witnesses or production of documents. So, it is the local courts, and in this case, they chose London, so it is the local courts in London that the rules will apply. Even the rules to apply were not stated clearly in the arbitration. So, it became difficult. The arbitration sat in London and gave a final award against Nigeria for compensation.
So, I think that is an argument that is pending, and one of the planes was released because it was discovered that the execution was done on the wrong property. The property executed enjoys absolute immunity and Nigeria has a right there to seek to recover the presidential planes because presidential planes are not used for public commercial business.
What do you think should be done?
The bottom line however is this; when a government goes into contracts, it should check whether the foreign countries have a bilateral trade relationship. For instance, we have a bilateral trade relationship with the United Kingdom. So, if a company from the United Kingdom is investing here, we should be careful. You don’t just wake up and say, ‘I terminate the contract.’
First, you have to liaise with the Federal Government and the federal Attorney General to find out the extent of the prospect created by the bilateral treaty. Ogun State cannot just wake up and terminate a contract between them and a Chinese company knowing full well that the Chinese government has a bilateral treaty with Nigeria to protect the investments of their individuals and companies in Nigeria, the same thing with Nigeria.
When you file a motion or an application for recognition and enforcement in a foreign country, you must serve a Nigerian lawyer. So, when they served them and they saw that these were presidential planes, what did they do? The court will not just grant you an attachment. In this case, we are talking about crime.
So, what was our defence? The lawyers appointed by Ogun State might not have even said anything and that is why we are where we are. It is a sad situation but there’s hope that our planes will come back because the Chinese investors were unfair by not telling the truth that these were presidential planes.
The Nigerian criminal justice system has faced criticism for inefficiencies and delays. What reforms will you recommend to address these issues?
When we talk about the Nigerian criminal justice system when you look at the American criminal justice system, there are delays, go to Brazil, and sometimes it takes 10 years. Nigeria’s criminal justice is not delayed in the manner that we are talking about. First, the judiciary is grossly understaffed, it is not modernised. Judges are still recording proceedings with their hands.
How would you expect a judge to have 20 cases on the cause list he is a human being how can he record all those twenty cases sometimes all he can take is three or four. These are proceedings that sometimes take 20 witnesses, and the judge is going to record everything, after that he is going to write judgment in other jurisdictions, recording is now done electronically.
As you are speaking it is recording automatically. I think one judge of the High Court bought his own. He records his proceedings electronically and you can’t fault when he’s done with proceedings. If you, want he will play the recording for you to hear. He bought the equipment in Canada. Why don’t we replicate that and do that for the whole of the judiciary so that we don’t need to waste so much time?
The government should increase the number of judges and improve their welfare, but I have to say this government has been quite good. It extended the tenure of judges at the High Court, and the next thing now is to incorporate the magistrates as judicial officers because we are also talking of state police, and we cannot have state police when the Magistrates are civil servants.
What are the changes you would want the new CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to bring to the judiciary?
She has always been there, and she knows what to do. She’s one of the best brains. She has seen everything that is involved. The quality of judges being appointed should be thoroughly vetted.
What are the major ethical challenges facing the legal profession in Nigeria today and what steps should be taken to address these challenges?
We have a lot of it but the ethical issues in the legal practice are on the side of lawyers, but the Legal Practitioners Act has been doing quite a lot. We’ve seen a lot of lawyers being debarred, their names struck out either for two years or struck out for life. We have been most active in trying to instill discipline. The most crucial thing is discipline in the profession. The profession is not a show business. You must abide by the rules and decorum of the profession.
How will you evaluate the state of human rights protection under the Nigerian law? Are there specific areas where you believe the legal framework needs strengthening to safeguard human rights?
No. The protection of human rights has always been a constitutional issue because we have constitutional protection under the fundamental human rights in our country. That is the beauty, and it is time for us to be proactive. Those who violate people’s rights should be personally held accountable and I have seen judges do it. We should take the constitution very seriously, and the fundamental human rights provision in the constitution should be treated as sacrosanct because no country will have a constitution and treat the constitution as if it is a mere suggestion.
What happened to your ambition to contest the governorship position of Benue State? Are you still interested in running for that office ahead of 2027?
I have been very active in legal practice, my pursuit for governor was not for personal gain. I had my master, President (Umaru) Yar’Adua. He had a seven-point agenda and within the short period, he stayed in government for two years and seven months. You saw how the country was turning. That was my dream, to be one of the main apostles of driving the government of rule and law. I wanted to have the opportunity to pursue the seven-point agenda within the state and see how it would be because he did two and half years.
During President Yar’Adua’s time, you cannot be detained, you will be arrested but you cannot be detained. There was sanity, no court would give judgment, and you would say you would not obey. Nobody, no contractor got a contract and was not paid because the minister of justice must be satisfied that the ministry that would award a contract had sufficient funds to ensure the contract was completed without litigation.