AGF Orders Suspension Of NDLEA Recruits Screening


Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has directed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to halt the vetting of 5,000 new recruits, Ekohotblog can report.

In a statement on Friday night by Dayo Apata, Solicitor General of the Federation, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Malami opined that the screening exercise was ill-timed and poorly thought out.

Recall that the NDLEA had scheduled January 10 and 23, 2021 for the screening and documentation of the new recruits.

In advance of the exercise, it asked the candidates to proceed to the agency’s academy, Citadel Counter-Narcotics Nigeria, (CCNN) at Katton-Rikkos, Jos, Plateau State.

But Malami, who admitted that the exercise was long overdue and important for the realisation of the NDLEA objectives, said the timing was wrong and inappropriate.

He noted that the suspension of the exercise became imperative in light of the current alarming upsurge in COVID-19 cases across the country.

Malami implored Apata to approach the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and seek them out on the dangers the NDLEA exercise portends for public health in view of the country’s prevailing reality.

The minister ordered NDLEA Chairman “to stay further action on this matter pending the receipt of clarification/advice from the Presidential Task Force”.

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The chairman was also asked to intimate the applicants of the development forthwith.