Ex NDLEA Boss, Lafiaji jailed 16 years

Former Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Bello Lafiaji, was earlier today sentenced to 16 years in prison for stealing cash confiscated from drug lords while in office.

Also convicted was his personal assistant, Usman Amali.and his personal assistant, Usman Amali.

Lafiaji will spend the next four years behind bars while Amali will spend three years as the sentences are to run concurrently.

The two convicts were arraigned in 2008 on a seven-count charge of conspiracy, using their positions to corruptly enrich themselves and receiving money before performing their lawful duties were convicted on six out of the seven counts.

They were sentenced as follows: fours years on count one, two years each on counts three, four, six and seven.

The prosecutor, Bolaji Ayorinde, (SAN), called 12 witnesses including assistant director of investigation, Samuel Gazama and Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Femi Oloruntoba.

In his judgement, presiding Justice Olusola Williams said that relying on the evidence of Gazama, it was established that money was recovered from the house of a drug suspect, Ikenna Onochie, and was taken to NDLEA office in Lagos and the money developed wings.