NCYP Partners ICPC to Foster Transparency in Local Government Administration, Deploys 33,370 Strong Workforce

By: Michael Mike

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has taken their advocacy for Local Government financial autonomy to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja.

NCYP Chairman, Isaac Abrak who led a team on advocacy visit to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, emphasized the crucial role Local Government Councils play in alleviating poverty and ensuring security, essential for national growth and development.

He offered the organisation’s workforce, comprising 16 National Executive members, 153 state Executives, 2601 Local Government Executives, and 30,600 ward officials, to partner with the ICPC in implementing the Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Government (CPP-LG).

He noted that the partnership aims to ensure that funds sent to Local Government Areas (LGAs) are managed with accountability and transparency, promoting development and benefiting the people.

Abrak also urged the public to support President Tinubu’s vision for Local Government financial autonomy, a key step in transforming Nigeria into an industrialized economy.

Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Oparaodu, representing the Chairman of ICPC, assured the group of the Commission’s support and partnership in fighting corruption. He commended the NCYP for their commitment to economic development at the grassroots level, advising the youths to conduct themselves with integrity and hold their Local Government Areas accountable for funds management.

Hon. Dooshima Kpen, NCYP National Women Leader, assured the Commission that the group is already working with its local government executives to ensure accountability. Barr. Henry Emore, ICPC Director of Legal Services, commended the NCYP and assured them of collaboration.

This partnership between the NCYP and the ICPC has the potential to bring about significant positive changes in Local Government administration, contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.

NCYP Partners ICPC to Foster Transparency in Local Government Administration, Deploys 33,370 Strong Workforce

Four drug kingpins bag 95 years in jail, forfeit jeeps, others

By: Michael Mike

Four drug kingpins: Ogbuji Ifeanyi; Iloduba Chinonye; Shuaibu Isa (a.k.a Don) and Zidon Zurga have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 95 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos and Yola, Adamawa state over trafficking of cocaine and skunk worth over N4.6 billion.

Ogbuji was intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on 18th September 2024 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos for importing 817 wraps of cocaine weighing 19.4 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of N47 billion.

That was barely 16 months after the 48-year-old businessman was arrested and convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine. He was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on 10th May 2023 upon arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.986 kilogrammes. He was subsequently arraigned before Federal High Court 12 Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023 and convicted on 13th July 2023.

Ogbuji was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of N3 million which he paid and was set free, but not done with crime, Ogbuji was again arrested at the Lagos airport with the large consignment of cocaine on 18th September 2024, after which he was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court Lagos in charge number: FHC/L/845C on 16th January 2025.

He was eventually sentenced on 28th February to five years imprisonment on count one with an option of N7 million fine and 10 years imprisonment on count two without an option of fine. In the event that he failed to pay the N7million fine, the judge ruled that the convict will serve a total of 15 years in jail consecutively. The court ordered the forfeiture of monetary exhibits and other items found on him at the time of his arrest.

In his own case, 51-year-old Iludoba was arrested by NDLEA operatives on new year eve, 31st December 2021 at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for cocaine trafficking. He was found to have ingested 58 wraps of the illicit drug, 48 of which he excreted on transit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while he expelled the balance of 10 in NDLEA custody after his arrest on 1st January 2022. He was thereafter arraigned on two counts in charge number FHC/EN/CR/18/2022 before Justice Folashade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Enugu.

After three years of diligent prosecution, Iludoba was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count, bringing his total years in jail to 10 years, which will run concurrently from the date of his conviction, Wednesday 5th March 2025.
In the case of Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (a.k.a Don), 55, and Zidon Zurga, 50, they were arrested by NDLEA operatives on 25th November 2024 along Numan- Yola road with 500.800kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in a pilot Toyota Hilux vehicle marked Lagos NT 829 AAA and a Prado SUV with a fake presidency number plate 01B-266 FG.

They were later arraigned before Justice Bala Usman in charge number: FHC/YL/150 /2024 and convicted on 7th February 2025 to 35 years imprisonment each on two counts, bringing the combined years in jail for both of them to 70 years or pay a fine of N25 million each. The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of the two jeeps used in trafficking the illicit drug consignment.

Reacting to the conviction of the trio, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the trial courts, the teams of officers who investigated and prosecuted the three cases at the MMIA Strategic Command in Lagos, Akanu Ibiam International Airport Special Area Command, Enugu and the Adamawa State Command for their diligence and professionalism. He said “the conviction and the forfeiture of the convicts’ instruments of crime will further strengthen the deterrent effect of our ongoing effort to totally dismantle every drug network in the country.”

Four drug kingpins bag 95 years in jail, forfeit jeeps, others

Lakurawa kingpin, Maigemu, eliminated in Kebbi

By: Our Reporter

Combined team of security operatives, including members of vigilance group, eliminated notorious Lakurawa kingpin, Maigemu in Kebbi.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that
Maigemu was neutralised on Thursday at Kuncin Baba in Arewa Local Government, a remote area with challenging terrain, after a fierce gun battle.

This success comes just a week after Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi visited Bagiza and Rausa Kade communities in Arewa Local Government to condole with residents over the killing of six people by suspected Lakurawa cattle rustlers.

“During the governor’s visit, he assured the affected communities of immediate security reinforcement and strategic measures to tackle criminal activities in the area.

“Today, his proactive approach has yielded results with the elimination of this kingpin. His corpse is available as evidence,” said the sources.

Lakurawa kingpin, Maigemu, eliminated in Kebbi