- NDLEA engages Naira Marley on anti-drug fight
- Tonto Dikeh, others lash out on the Agency over collaboration
- Litany of Naira Marley’s arrests by security agencies
August 17, 2023, a Nigerian singer and songwriter, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, known as Naira Marley paid a visit to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to join the campaign against drug abuse in the country.
The spokesperson for the Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday where he said that Naira Marley was well received by the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) when the artiste paid a visit to the National Headquarters of the Agency.
According to the Agency, the meeting aimed to deliberate on effective strategies to combat the issue of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
“Music star Naira Marley was in Abuja to declare support for the War Against Drug Abuse on Thursday 17th August 2023,” he wrote.
Naira Marley in his own speech urged the youths to stop the substance abuse with a view to making the country a better place for all and sundry.
“Let us all stop substance abuse in any form. I have keyed into this campaign to support the NDLEA to stop drugs on the streets. Please, join us as drug abuse is not good,” the 32-year-old said.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the musician visited with other members of his team such as Sam Larry, Dami Marshal and Chuddy Naira.
However, since this visit, there has been plethora of reactions as to why the Agency engage Naira Marley of all youths for the fight against drug abuse in the country.
According to public opinion, if the Agency should engage any musician in the country, Naira Marley, who at one point or the other has been arrested by the Law enforcement agency for allegedly running foul of the law, should as a matter of image protection be out of consideration.
In any case, in his reaction ” I will unfollow now. You people are the most unserious set of folks. And if you come for me, I will be ready!!!
Shit hole! Shitter home!!!
Others have also reacted in many different ways according to their feelings.
Osemwege Agbonze Iyamu wrote, “Drug addict wan fight drug abuse. What a country we find ourselves.”
Inalegwu Ikpeme wrote, “Wetin person no go see in Nigeria!
Soon EFCC will make Hushipipi their Ambassador. E be like say even the NDLEA Oga ma sef the work don tired him Nigeria my country!”
Ogunsola Idris Abolore equally wrote thus, “Very great move and nice strategy by NDLEA…if you one fight crime use one of the criminals.”
B Aba Lawan also stated, “Good one @naira marley let other artists follow suit.”
In any case, as the collaboration continued to generate more mixed reactions, and given the fact that the image of the Anti-drug agency remained at a huge stake, the NDLEA on Friday issued a statement, clarifying their collaboration with the music icon.
In a statement issued on Saturday, August 19 and signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters the Agency said the engagement of Naira Marley was to help in the fight against drug abuse among Nigerian youths.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says its engagement with music star, Afeez Adeshina Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley is to encourage him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.
“The artiste had on Thursday 17th August 2023 led members of his team on a visit to the National Headquarters of the Agency in Abuja to express his preparedness to join the fight against drug abuse in the country.
“This clarification became necessary following continued misrepresentation of the purpose of the visit especially on online platforms where some reports suggest that the British-Nigerian singer was appointed as an NDLEA Ambassador.
“This is misleading and absolute falsehood as the pictures of the visit and the short video containing Naira Marley’s advocacy message to his followers were properly captioned and shared by the Agency without any suggestion of such appointment.
“The decision by the Agency to encourage Naira Marley with over seven million followers, half the population of those who abuse drugs in Nigeria, use his platform share anti-substance abuse messages as against using same to promote and glamourize drug abuse with the dire consequence of misleading millions of Nigerian youths into their peril, is to create a balance between our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
“This is also in line with the Agency’s whole society approach to the fight against drug abuse, and in tune with global best practice as well as the theme for this year’s World Drug Day; People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.
“When an artiste, who professes marijuana is good to seven million followers turns a new leaf after some serious counselling, do we reject him, turn our back to him and allow him continue in his old habit or we accept him, give him a chance so he can reach out to his followers to quit substance abuse.
“In other words, why should we take our anti-drug abuse advocacy messages to schools, churches, mosques, market places, motor parks, Nollywood, kannywood, traditional rulers, labour and the entertainment industry but when one of their members accepts to turn a new leaf, we turn our back to him?
“These are questions those opposed to Naira Marley’s needed change may have to ponder on.
Indeed, no one is better suited to take the message against drug abuse to the Marlians than the head of the same movement.
“This is no time for mischief or cynicism but the right moment we all need to encourage the singer and hold him accountable to his public commitment against substance abuse in his video message to his followers in the overall interest of our youths.”
Catalogue of Naira Marley arrests/cases with security agencies
It is on record that the musician has constantly been on the wrong side of the law.
However, on May 10, 2019, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Naira Marley and another musician Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael( popularly known as Zlatan)
They were arrested in connection with an alleged case of internet fraud and money laundering.
The EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, confirmed their arrest in a statement made available to newsmen.
According to the anti-graft agency, the musicians were arrested alongside Tiamiu Abdulrahman Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses and Abubakar Musa.
Explaining further, EFCC said their arrest followed an early morning raid, at 9, Gbangbola Street, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos.
However, at the point of arrest, the commission said it found and recovered a number of items, including laptops, from the suspects.
The commission said the suspects have so far volunteered useful information about their involvement in the alleged criminal activities, even as investigations continue.
Also on December, 2019 a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos ordered the arrest and arraignment of Naira Marley over alleged car theft.
Chief magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, ordered that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sgt. Sunday Idoko, handling the case must present Naira Marley in court on the next date of adjournment.
However, two of the musician’s brothers and his cousins appeared in court over alleged theft of a car and a cell phone.
Tajudeen, had granted the three defendants; Idris Fashola, 18, Babatunde Fashola, 24; and Kunle Obere, 22, a N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum after facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstructing the arrest of Naira Marley.
He ordered the IPO to produce Naira Marley before the court on Dec. 21, when the case would be listed for further hearing.
ASP Edet Okoi, the prosecutor made it known to the court that the three defendants committed the offences on Dec. 16, at Eko Hotel Roundabout on Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said that the trio who were in a motorcade with Naira Marley, stole a Toyota Camry vehicle with Registration No. FEE 120 AA valued at N1.8 million and an IPhone XS worth N330,000 belonging to one Mr Adelekan Ademola.
He added that the three defendants and others at large assaulted the complainant by beating him up.
Okoi alleged that the second defendant, Babatunde Fashola and others at large obstructed the police while performing their lawful duty and prevented them from arresting Naira Marley.
“One of the vehicles in the musician’s motorcade hit the complainant’s vehicle from the back while he was throwing out money from his vehicle to his fans.
” When the complainant came down from the vehicle to inspect the damage, Obere entered into the complainant’s Camry and drove it off with the motorcade.
“Ademola reported to the police and the vehicle was tracked to where it was parked at Jakande Crescent, Oniru in Lagos.
“When the police arrived at the location in company with the complainant, Naira Marley and his boys started beating the complainant.
” A group of boys obstructed the police from arresting the musician but they were able to apprehend the three defendants,” he alleged.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 112,172, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
As if that is not enough, on June 10, 2022 the Head of the Cybercrime Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Whyte Dein, told the Federal High Court in Lagos that his team was able to link controversial Naira Marley, to a credit card fraud.
Dein, who is also a Chief Detective Officer with the EFCC, was testifying in the ongoing trial of Naira Marley over allegations of alleged cybercrime offences.
The musician was standing trial on an 11-count charge of conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards and fraud brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
According to the EFCC, Naira Marley committed the offences on different dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.