- As 153 Nigerians remain on death row in Malaysia, China over drugs
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, on Tuesday escaped death after one of the policemen escorting a bullion van opened fire on his vehicle while travelling to Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened at Ile-Oluji Junction. Falae was travelling to Ile-Ife for Afenifere leaders’ visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Sources at Ife palace told our correspondent that the former Minister of Finance, who is the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, briefed some persons at Ile-Ife about the incident before the meeting with the Ooni.
Falae was quoted to have said, “I was coming from Akure, approaching Ilesa. I saw some vehicles ahead of me. There was a bullion van in front, the vehicles ahead of us were overtaking the bullion van and we followed too.
“We just barely passed them when I heard a shot and I heard a bang on the car. We stopped and we discovered that they had shot at our car.
“They didn’t stop. We stopped at Erin-Ijesa and complained to the police at the checkpoint that one of the policemen escorting a bullion van fired at us at Ile-Oluji Juction.”
Efforts to speak directly to Falae were unsuccessful as calls put to his telephone did not connect.
However, a leader of the Afenifere in Osun State, Mr. Niyi Owolade, confirmed the shooting to our correspondent on the telephone.
Owolade said he spoke to Falae directly and he told him that a policeman attached to a bullion van shot at his car while coming to Ile-Ife.
He said, “I have just spoken to him and he confirmed it. He said his car was shot at by a bullion van escort.
“Chief said he would take it up because such a thing should not be allowed.”
The personal assistant to Falae, Capt, Moshood Raji, also confirmed the incident to one of our correspondents on the telephone.
He said, “Yes, it is true they shot at the car between Ikeji-Arakeji and Ipetu in Osun State.
“There were three vehicles and Chief Falae’s SUV drove past the pilot, one of the policemen fired at the SUV. Nobody was injured and Chief Falae and everybody is fine.”
He added that Falae would report the matter to the police authorities after returning to Akure.
Falae was recently abducted by some hoodlums on his farm in Akure and he was released after he had paid some amount of money as ransom to his captors.
Meanwhile, Oba Ogunwusi has urged Afenifere to make Yoruba’s progress their priority.
The Ooni stated this during a courtesy visit of the group to his palace.
The monarch, who has been touring Yorubaland with his message of peace and unity, expressed his dissatisfaction with the disunity among Yoruba.
Ogunwusi said, “Despite how powerful and influential we are in Yorubaland, we have allowed politicians to cause disunity among us.
“I am happy to meet you today and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to leave politics and love each other for the sake of progress of Yorubaland.
“I want you to go and meet those that offended you and settle the dispute. I am very sure that Yorubaland will progress if we can love one another.”
The Afenifere Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, assured the monarch of the group’s readiness to support any course that could promote unity in Yorubaland.
In the meantime, Senate yesterday raised the alarm that about 153 Nigerians are currently awaiting execution in Malaysia and China, following their involvement in illicit drugs. The lawmakers also revealed that four out of 11 Nigerians on death row were executed in April 2015 by Indonesian authorities despite pleas for leniency by Nigeria, the United Nations and Amnesty International.
This was as the senaNigerians were executed in China also in April last year, even as 120 others are still on death row for drug-related offences, with 74 of them being held in Guandong and Guanxi provinces.
The lawmakers said in Singapore, one Nigerian is awaiting the hangman’s noose because of his participation in drug offence. These revelations came to light yesterday during a debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa and supported by 21 others.
The senators consequently urged the Federal Government to restructure and reposition the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to be able to meet the challenges of evasive drug traffickers who use Nigerians to traffic the illicit products. The lawmakers also asked the police, NDLEA, NAFDAC, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, PCN, and other regulatory agencies to develop a collaborative approach towards curbing the incidence of drug use and abuse in the country.
They, in addition, mandated the Committee on Drugs and Narcotics to urgently consider the amendment of Section 23 of the PCN Act, to include the sale of prescription pills over the counter as an offence punishable by the Act.
In his lead presentation, Ashafa disclosed that many Nigerian youths’ involvement in illicit global drugs trade had led them to be currently on death row in different countries. According to him, drug offences in some countries attract capital punishment. Ashafa expressed concerns that in spite of the execution, some desperate Nigerians were still not deterred.
He said: “The case for leniency was rendered impotent because, at that point, seven fresh cases of drug trafficking involving Nigerians had just emerged in Indonesia.”
He stated that these desperate Nigerians used to disguise as university students colluding with drug syndicates to undermine the visa system and gain entrance into Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and other drug traffic routes.
According to him, 30 out of 80 foreign students arrested in 2015 were Nigerians in Malaysia where authorities have confirmed that 40 per cent of foreigners arrested for drug offences are from Nigeria. Senator Ashafa regretted that Nigerians’ involvement in drug business is tarnishing the image of the country.
“Our nationals are viewed with suspicion and subjected to demeaning treatment at airports across the world as a result of this negative perception.”
The lawmaker chided the Federal Government for not taking serious actions to curb the menace of drug couriers and their sponsors within and outside the country. In their contributions, Senators Sam Anyanwu, Oluremi Tinubu, Barau Jibrin and Ovie Omo- Agege also condemned the rate at which Nigerian youths are involved in drug-related offences. In particular, Senator Tinubu called for the establishment of more rehabilitation centres to handle Nigerians already addicted to drugs.
In his short remarks, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stressed the urgent need to curb the menace of illicit drugs among the youths before it escalates.
Punch with additional report from National Mirror
