Imported User:
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, said on Tuesday in Abuja that government would not intervene on behalf of any Nigerian ``properly convicted’’ aboard for drug related offence.
Adoke, who is also the Minister of Justice, gave the warning in an address to mark the 2012 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
``Nigeria will no longer be drawn into undue negotiations with any other country for the purpose of securing clemency for any Nigerian citizen properly convicted aboard for a drug related offence,’’ he said.
In his address presented by Mr Pius Otteh, an official of the Ministry, Adoke appealed to all Nigerians to respect the anti-drug laws of countries they visit or transit.
He said that Nigerians arrested abroad for drug related offences, had not only brought shame and ridicule to the country, but ``also place themselves in the avoidable danger of longer jail sentences or even capital punishment.’’
An address presented on behalf of the Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), expressed concern over abuse among children aged 10.
``These are young individuals that would have been out there contributing their own quota to the social and economic development of our fatherland.
``This gives cause for worry because the youth, as the saying goes, are the leaders of tomorrow,’’ Anyim said.
Anyim also raised the issue of Nigerians serving jail terms aboard on drug related offences, saying that over 450 Nigerians were detained for drug related offences in Brazil.
He said that no fewer than 300 Nigerians were in jail for drug peddling in Indonesia with 17 of them on death row.
The SGF said the government was committed to providing an environment that was healthy and conducive for the development of the youth.
``The fight against drug abuse cannot be the responsibility of NDLEA alone but a collective responsibility of everyone because it affects all of us directly or indirectly. ’’
The UN observes June 26 of every year as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to raise awareness of the major problem that illegal drugs represent to society.
The UN estimates that nearly 200 million people use illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide.
