More Nigerians travelling to `drug-sourced’ countries -NDLEA

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Why are more Nigerians traveling to “drud-sourced” countries? This is the riddle that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) can not solve, as it said on Thursday that it has received several of such applications.
A statement by NDLEA spokesman, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, in Lagos  said such applications were meant to be screened by the agency and recommended to the country’s embassies for visa issuance.
He said the agency received 2, 172 applications in 2011 and 3, 255 in 2012.
“Similarly, there was an increase in the number of successful applicants from 2,026 in 2011 to 2,845 in 2012. The applicants are usually required to present two guarantors.
“The agency is very strict with the process because of the need to protect the image of the country from being smeared by some unscrupulous persons.
“Some applicants collect the forms and never showed up because they cannot not get credible people to guarantee them,’’ Ofoyeju said.
He said the agency had cleared Nigeria’s most beautiful girl 2013, Miss Anna Banner, for her trip to Jakarta, Indonesia, for the forthcoming Miss World Beauty pageant.
The spokesman said that her request for visa clearance certificate was approved on merit having met the stipulated requirements.
Meanwhile,  three men were  on Wednesday arraigned by the Police in a Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State for selling Indian Hemp and belonging to a gang of thieves.
Those arraigned are Mohammed Maikasuwa, 24, of Angwan Gwari, Mararaba, Felix Silas, 23, of same address and Johnson Jimoh, 24, of Aso Pada road, Mararaba.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Inuwa Maigida told the court a police detective, Sgt. Lawal Usman attached to the ‘A’ Division Police Station, arrested the three men on July 22.
Maigida alleged that the accused persons were arrested at Anwan Gwari, Mararaba with some quantity of Indian hemp for sale.
He said investigations also revealed that they belonged to a gang of thieves, who terrorise people in Mararaba.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened provisions of sections 97, 306 and 361 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, they could face up to 12 years in prison or given an option to pay a fine or both. The accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The presiding judge, Mr Albert Maga admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N100, 000 and one surety each in like sum.
Maga ordered that the surety must be responsible, possess a landed property and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
He ordered the sureties to write an undertaking promising the court that the accused would not commit similar offence.
The judge adjourned the case to September 5, for hearing.