Yes, suspect has a drug case in court, says NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has described the 24 year-old man, Ibik Emmanuel, now arrested for robbery simply unrepentant, adding that he has a drug case pending in court.

NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, described Emmanuel’s re-arrest as a clear manifestation of the link between drugs and crime.

Ofoyeju said: “Ibik Emmanuel is on bail on a pending drug case at the Federal High Court at Awka, Anambra State before he was arrested by detectives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command.”

It will be recalled that Emmanuel was arrested by SARS on February for attempting to snatch a Honda car from two women at the Ajah area of Lagos State. He said that he committed the crime because he desperately needed money to settle his drug related case at a high court.

Emmanuel was arrested at the Lekki/Ajah area of the metropolis after he and his friend partner, Chima Tony Agomoh, bought a toy gun and attempted to snatch the Honda car from two ladies.

The ladies surrendered the car and key, but took to screaming at the sight of the gun. The screaming alerted people in the area and they attempted to rescue the women.

Emmanuel’s friend, Agomoh, jumped into the car, kick start it and drove away, leaving Emmanuel at the mercy of the crowd.

Further revealing how Emmanuel and subsequently charged to court, Ofoyeju said: “He was apprehended by officials of the NDLEA in 2013 during raid operation at Enugu Ukwu, Anambra State. He was found with dried weeds of cannabis weighing 300 grammes and was immediately arraigned at the Federal High Court, Awka. The charge no is FHC/AWK/97C/2013. Though he is currently on bail, the matter is ongoing as the Agency had presented two out of three witnesses.”

According to Ofoyeju, the re-arrest of Emmanuel on an alleged robbery case by SARS, is a validation of the link between drugs and crime.

 “Drug is inextricably connected to crime because drug addicts commit crime in order to get money to sustain their drug habit,” said Ofoyeju.  “In addition, criminal acts are perpetrated under the influence of drugs. The Agency will liaise with the Police authority to ensure that his pending drug case is pursued to a logical conclusion. The prosecution has one witness left to close its case.”