Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
An operative with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who died on duty about a year ago was among the 71 officials of the agency whose appointments across the country were terminated recently.
An operative with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who died on duty about a year ago was among the 71 officials of the agency whose appointments across the country were terminated recently.
Until his death, Mr. Samaila Nicholas Mamman, who is number 68th on the sack list was an assistant superintendent of narcotics with the agency and his last duty post was Gombe.
The breakdown of the rank and file of the agency's staff whose sack is now a subject of controversy include one commander of narcotics, two deputy commanders of narcotics and 32 assistant commanders of narcotics.
Also affected were five chief superintendents of narcotics, 16 superintendent of narcotics, five deputy superintendent of narcotics, eight assistant superintendent of narcotics, one each of senior narcotics agents and narcotics assistant respectively.
This disclosure was contained in an appeal letter sent to the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions by Mr. Victor Fadeyibi and Emmanuel Umaru on behalf of the aggrieved ex-NDLEA operatives.
The officials, who described their sack as unjust and premature claimed that their sack was not approved by the governing board of the agency.
'Aside from the fact that our retirement did not follow due process, it is also not in the interest of this our great country. None of the affected members were previously investigated for any anti agency activities. The retirement is meant to satisfy a particular interest.
'We appeal to your Honourable House to see that we are re-absorbed into the system because we humbly noticed that the leadership of the NDLEA has begun a major crackdown on us because of our appeal before your honourable House."
Fadeyibi said that the crackdown was aimed at fabricating stories against certain individuals in order to discredit them individually and collectively.
He alleged that one of the signatories (Abdullahi Bayawo) to their petition before the House, had been arrested.
'The leadership of the agency before the House Committee openly claimed that we did not commit any offence before they decided on sending us on compulsory retirement. The current offensive by the agency is to carry out damage control and find ways in which to justify an action that is unjustifiable.
'The Agency had ample time to investigate, charge or prosecute any of us before deciding on our retirement. For them to now resort to unconventional means to discredit us because they have at their disposal, the apparatus of power and state is a violation of our fundamental human rights and gross miscarriage of justice," the petitioners alleged.
The aggrieved operatives who insisted that their sack was orchestrated by individuals in the agency challenged the agency to produce minutes of the meeting where their matter was discussed.
Daily Sun also learnt that a member of the Institute of Chattered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) who requested to be transferred to the office was sacked for his effrontery.
'We are reliably informed that nothing good will come out of the review panel, hence our appeal to concerned Nigerians to help us in our fight for justice," they further pleaded.