EX-NDLEA OFFICIAL ACQUITTED

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday discharged and acquitted a former officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abdullahi Bayawo, of the six- count charge preferred against him by the agency.

Bayawo, the former commander of the NDLEA at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was prematurely retired from the agency by Giade in 2004 for allegedly being close to the former Chairman of the NDLEA, Alhaji Bello Lafiaji.

Upon his protests and agitation for his reinstatement, he was arrested, detained and arraigned twice in 2007 on certain charges.

In his ruling, Justice Jonathan Shakarho did not only quash the charge, but ordered Giade to release forthwith all the property confiscated from Bayawo including his mobile phones which were said to be in the custody of the agency.

Justice Shakarho said the seizure of the former commander's property by Giade was a sign of oppression, intimidation and unnecessary show of power.

The judge also held that having listened to the arguments of the parties in the suit, he came to the conclusion that the various inconsistencies on the part of the prosecution's case had created some lacuna and doubts.