Speed Darlington’s lawyer, Stan Alieke, has stated that the Nigeria Police do not have the authority to arrest, detain, or prosecute individuals found with Indian hemp or any form of hard drugs.
Alieke emphasized that such cases fall under the jurisdiction of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), not the police.
In a post shared on social media, he made it clear that only the NDLEA has the legal right to carry out arrests related to drug possession.
He argued that, “Police do not have the power to arrest anybody for possession of Indian Hemp or any other hard drugs, it falls under the jurisdiction of NDLEA.”
This statement challenges the common practice of police involvement in drug-related arrests, asserting that the specialized agency, NDLEA, is the only one authorized to handle these cases.
Alieke’s comment has sparked a debate about the roles and powers of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, particularly when it comes to drug-related offenses.
The clarification also sheds light on the legal boundaries that separate the responsibilities of the police and the NDLEA, as well as the importance of following due process in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
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