Senator calls for drug test for Public Office holders, accuses colleagues of consuming, dealing in drugs
Senator calls for drug test for Public Office holders, accuses colleagues of consuming, dealing in drugs
There was drama on Tuesday as Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) alleged that many of his colleagues at the National Assembly were involved in drug abuse while carrying out their official duties.
Sumaila made this declaration while contributing to a debate on a Bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on the floor during plenary.
He alleged that most of his colleagues possessed hard drugs and kept them in their various constituency offices and homes.
He also claimed that majority of the senators have ties with drug dealers.
Sumaila said: “As I am speaking now, most of our offices in our constituencies, most of our political offices in our constituencies, most of our houses, when you go there, you will find out that there is a mountain of drugs and there are drug dealers in our offices and in our houses. All in our houses.”
Sumaila also said he knows some senior politicians supporting drug dealers in carrying out their illegal activities.
“I can take you to some of the political leaders who are in so many ways contributing or supporting drug abusers in Nigeria. Therefore, Mr. President, we need to be serious.
“If we are talking, we need to understand, we are all one here. We need to fight it from our own side. We need to be serious. Let us go for test and see who and who are not”.
Sumaila challenged his colleagues to swear with the Qur’an and the Bible that they did not encourage drug abuse during their electioneering campaigns.
Sumaila said: “Let us ask ourselves during our campaigns, what are we doing with the so-called youth? How many of us can swear with Quran or Bible that in any way they are not supporting drug abusers in their constituency?
“I am happy if all of us can swear with Holy Quran that they are not in any way in support of drug abusers or interacting with youth in their constituency to take drugs because of their political interests,” he added.
He advocated for drug tests for politicians before contesting elections and assumption of political offices.
He said: “Whether we are allowing this bill to create an agency or we are strengthening NDLEA, we need a situation where before contesting elections, or before taking up an office at whatever level in government, you must go for a drug test.”
He said the country will not achieve the essence of the bill until the upper chamber collaborates with relevant stakeholders to stop drug abuse in the country.
“There is one aspect which we need to look into. Whether we create this agency or strengthen the activities of NDLEA, we need to do something. We, as politicians, we, as leaders in this country, we, as stakeholders, we need to do a lot.
“We all believe that religiously, both Islam and Christianity, even in our traditional religion, drug abuse is prohibited. But, who are those encouraging and supporting it?
“We cannot achieve the intent of this bill unless and until we all agree that we will put our heads together with relevant stakeholders to stop drug abuse in Nigeria,” he said.
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Two Police officers killed by suspected gunmen
Two Police officers killed by suspected gunmen
The Nigerian Police, Yobe State Command has confirmed the killing of two police officers at the Kolere Police Outpost in Fune Local Government Area.
DSP Ali Pindar was killed in late January 2025, allegedly by hoodlums.
Prior to his death, DSP Pindar had arrested a high-profile gang leader and transferred the suspect to the Damagum Divisional Police Headquartres.
The suspect was arraigned and granted bail.
The second incident occurred on February 9, when DSP Jantuku Philibus, the outpost’s officer-in-charge, was killed while attempting to arrest a suspect.
DSP Philibus killed one of the attackers before being overpowered and fatally injured.
SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incidents.
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Drop your Presidential ambition in 2027, it’s Tinubu’s turn – Ganduje tells Northern politicians
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has advised northern politicians nursing presidential ambition for 2027 general election to discard the idea as incumbent President Bola Tinubu will serve two terms in office.
Ganduje gave the advice when he played host to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre (PBAT Media Centre) and Tinubu Northern Youth Forum (TNYF), at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday
He said anybody day-dreaming that the presidency will return to the North in 2027 should wake up from his or her slumber as that would not be possible.
“When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South.
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“And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our president has come from the South and is going, Insha Allah, for the second term in 2027. And then after that, it will return to the northern part of this country.
“There is no doubt that many things went wrong over a long period of time, and it requires surgery before we can get it right.
“We are happy that we have started seeing the outcome of the reforms, especially on the economic front, and we believe this will continue to yield positive results so that the legacy and the Renewed Hope Agenda will be achieved,” Ganduje stated.
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Policeman sent to Prison allegedly for defiling Teenage Girl inside Police Station
Policeman sent to jail allegedly for defiling Teenage Girl inside Police Station
A police officer, who allegedly defiled a 17-year-old girl at the Ogudu Area Command premises, has been arraigned in court on Tuesday.
Mrs Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni, the Head of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) praised the process in a statement.
The suspect was remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Facility and the case was adjourned to March 11, pending the issuance of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) legal advice.
Ladenegan-Oginni reiterated DSVA’s commitment to ensuring justice and the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual violence.
She urged everyone to “say something whenever they see something” and to reach out to them via their toll-free line or social media platforms.
“You can reach out to us by calling our toll free line 08000-333-333 or send a DM to @lagosdsva on all social media platforms,” Ladenegan-Oginni said.
The incident occurred on June 29, when the girl, who had reported her phone stolen, was allegedly tricked by the officer, Owolabi, into visiting his office, where she was allegedly raped. (NAN)
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