Bello Lafiaji’s road to jail
Lafiaji, who was recognized for his dogged fight against drugs in the country at a time drug related crimes were prevalent, was elected President of the European Working Group of the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC). His election took place at a conference of the organisation at Lima, Peru, sometime in 2004. Previously, he was […]
Lafiaji, who was recognized for his dogged fight against drugs in the country at a time drug related crimes were prevalent, was elected President of the European Working Group of the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC).
His election took place at a conference of the organisation at Lima, Peru, sometime in 2004. Previously, he was the secretary of IDEC for two years.
A total of 400 delegates, representing 70 countries attended the conference and Lafiaji’s election was seen as an overwhelming vote of confidence on Nigeria’s fight against drugs.
At the conference, the Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (USDEA) and the United States Secretary of State, both representatives of the President of America, George Bush, at the meeting, tasked Lafiaji to further ensure positive strides in global drug control, especially in the area of exchange of intelligence and international development.
Being the first African to be appointed into the office, he was saddled with the responsibility of mobilising countries and accepting their membership of the organisation, which was aimed at the establishment of a virile counter-narcotic intelligence database and exchange of valuable information among member countries.
While accepting his election, Lafiaji said he was humbled by the appointment and assured the international community of Nigeria’s commitment to the drug war as well as his renewed offensive in the fight against hard drugs, promising to see to the enlistment of more countries into the organisation.
“The fight against hard drugs is not a country’s affair. This is because if one country succeeds and neighbouring countries still remain trafficking hubs, then the country may still have to sleep with one eye open,” Lafiaji had stated.
But Lafiaji’s conviction for corrupt enrichment while in office last week by a Lagos High Court means that he would spend 16 years in jail, a case of a hunter being hunted.
Lafiaji who was sentenced alongside his Personal Assistant, Usman Amali, were arraigned in court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit fraud and abuse of office.
Lafiaji and Amali were initially arraigned on a five-count charge by the Commission, but according to the amended statement of offence filed on January 29, 2009, the charges were later increased by the Ccommission to seven. The amended statement showed that the accused persons, in November 2005 or thereabouts, in Lagos, conspired to unlawfully receive from one Ikenna Onochie, a suspect with the NDLEA, 164,300 euros being exhibit seized from the suspect in order to release him and his vehicles from custody.
The accused were said to have conspired to use their offices to confer corrupt advantages upon themselves, contrary to Section 26 and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The prosecutor, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), called 12 witnesses, including Assistant Director of Investigation, Samuel Gazama and Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Femi Oloruntoba.
The defence counsel led by Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), called five witnesses.
In his judgment, presiding judge, Olusola Williams, said that relying on the evidence of Gazama, it was established that money was recovered from the house of a drug suspect, Ikenna Onochie and was taken to the NDLEA office in Lagos but the money got missing.
Lafiaji may be locked behind bars in prison but for most Nigerians who knew what he did at the NDLEA, their hearts are full of prayers for him, as they see his conviction as a irony of justice.