Posted by Onyedi Ojiabor and Olalekan Adetayo on
The Federal Government on Thursday announced the removal of Alhaji Bello Lafiaji as the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The Federal Government on Thursday announced the removal of Alhaji Bello Lafiaji as the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Although it was not clear at press time why Lafiaji was dropped, a statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette, named Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, as the agency's new helmsman.
Giade's appointment, according to the statement, is with immediate effect.
The Presidency sources told our correspondents that the removal of Lafiaji caught him unawares, especially when his tenure was recently renewed for another five years.
The sacked NDLEA boss was said to have sent some of his officials to participate in a workshop at the State House on Thursday morning.
When contacted by our correspondents around 7pm, the agency's Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Jonah Achoma, said Lafiaji was yet to receive any news on his sack.
'We only heard through the calls made by journalists seeking clarification on the issue," Achoma said.
He disclosed that Lafiaji was on his seat on Thursday performing his duties.
Lafiaji's removal is coming on the heels of reports that a very senior police officer attached to the Presidency had been picked up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of corruption.
A Presidency source, who revealed this to our correspondent late on Thursday, said the officer was being questioned in Abuja but refused to give further details.
The NDLEA was set up in 1989 to combat illicit drug trafficking, abuse and money laundering.
It remained a stillbirth under six chief executives, leading to the stigmatisation of Nigeria as a drug trafficking and money-laundering hub.
But the negative perception changed with the appointment in October 2000 of Lafiaji, a veteran intelligence administrator, as the head of the agency.
He took over from Mr. Iliya Lukadong, a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had on April 25 written a letter to Lafiaji commending him for his appointment as the Secretary-General of the International Drug Enforcement Conference.
Obasanjo said the appointment was an indication of the international community's recognition of Nigeria's anti-corruption war.
The Punch, Friday November 25, 2005