Marwa Warns NDLEA Officers against Illegal Arrest, Detention

The Chairman and Chief Executive of National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa yesterday asked
officers of the agency to desist from hostage arrest or arresting
relations of suspected drug offenders on the run.

He, also, warned against detaining suspected drug offenders
beyond the hours allowed by law, insisting that they should be
presented before the court within the time limit.

He gave this warning in a statement NDLEA’s Director, Media &
Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi issued yesterday.

In the statement, NDLEA’s boss warned commanders, officers and
men of the agency against the detention of suspects beyond the
limit allowed by law.

He, also, prohibited the arrest of a relation, spouse or
acquaintance of a suspected drug offender, often referred to as
hostage arrest.
He disclosed: “The directives were contained in the reviewed
operations and investigations guidelines to all commands of the
agency across the country.”

It said the order has become imperative in view of the current
democratic dispensation in the country and the need to adhere
strictly to constitutional provisions regarding arrest and
detention of suspects.

He said: “To avoid a breach of the operations guidelines,
arrangements must be made for the filing of charges in court within
24 or 48 hours as may be applicable. Where this is not possible, a
detention order must be procured from the Federal High Court for
the continuous detention of an arrested person.”

Marwa further directed that investigations in all cases “must be
concluded not later than one (1) week. In all cases of raid
operations, all non-culpable suspects must be separated from those
culpable and released immediately.”

NDLEA’s chief equally demanded that all prosecutors must ensure
prompt filing of charges in courts and pursue timely arraignment of
suspects.
He however reaffirmed that NDLEA personnel remain empowered to
arrest and carry out searches whenever there is reasonable ground
to suspect that a drug related offence has been committed.

He warned that detention of persons for purposes of obtaining
information and/or intelligence without such a person committing
any drug related offence was prohibited.
“The agency and its personnel shall in the course of arrest and
search respect the dignity of the human person of the suspect.

“Accordingly, a suspect shall not in any way be ill-treated. Leg
chain and handcuff may only be used where the person is violent
and/or resistant to arrest such that reasonable force is required
to restrain him/her.”

The Chairman and Chief Executive of National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa yesterday asked
officers of the agency to desist from hostage arrest or arresting
relations of suspected drug offenders on the run.

He, also, warned against detaining suspected drug offenders
beyond the hours allowed by law, insisting that they should be
presented before the court within the time limit.

He gave this warning in a statement NDLEA’s Director, Media &
Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi issued yesterday.

In the statement, NDLEA’s boss warned commanders, officers and
men of the agency against the detention of suspects beyond the
limit allowed by law.

He, also, prohibited the arrest of a relation, spouse or
acquaintance of a suspected drug offender, often referred to as
hostage arrest.
He disclosed: “The directives were contained in the reviewed
operations and investigations guidelines to all commands of the
agency across the country.”

It said the order has become imperative in view of the current
democratic dispensation in the country and the need to adhere
strictly to constitutional provisions regarding arrest and
detention of suspects.

He said: “To avoid a breach of the operations guidelines,
arrangements must be made for the filing of charges in court within
24 or 48 hours as may be applicable. Where this is not possible, a
detention order must be procured from the Federal High Court for
the continuous detention of an arrested person.”

Marwa further directed that investigations in all cases “must be
concluded not later than one (1) week. In all cases of raid
operations, all non-culpable suspects must be separated from those
culpable and released immediately.”

NDLEA’s chief equally demanded that all prosecutors must ensure
prompt filing of charges in courts and pursue timely arraignment of
suspects.
He however reaffirmed that NDLEA personnel remain empowered to
arrest and carry out searches whenever there is reasonable ground
to suspect that a drug related offence has been committed.

He warned that detention of persons for purposes of obtaining
information and/or intelligence without such a person committing
any drug related offence was prohibited.
“The agency and its personnel shall in the course of arrest and
search respect the dignity of the human person of the suspect.

“Accordingly, a suspect shall not in any way be ill-treated. Leg
chain and handcuff may only be used where the person is violent
and/or resistant to arrest such that reasonable force is required
to restrain him/her.”