E.F.C.C. and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) may not have a striking relationship but some area of
similarity is still visible. It is sufficient to state the vision of N.D.L.E.A.
so as to create a vivid picture of the agency. The vision of the agency states
thus: to become the most proactive and leading drug law enforcement agency on
the African continent and one of the best in the world through the provision f
effective and efficient services to Nigerians by cutting off the supply of
illicit drugs and other substances of abuse, tracing and recovering drug
related proceeds and contribution to the creation and maintenance of an
enviable image for the Nation throughout the world.
One of the
vision statement of N.D.L.E.A is the reduction of the demand for
illicit drugs. This part of the vision statement crates room for relationship.
The E.F.C.C. and N.D.L.E.A are related on the basis that drug related crimes
give birth to financial crimes, which in turn is linked to money laundering.
With, the presence of E.F.C.C., drug traffickers who are often engaged in money
laundering are brought to book.38 The reason being that while N.D.L.E.A hunts
for the substance, E.F.C.C. hunts for the proceeds.
The relationship between E.F.C.C. and N.D.L.E.A can be
seen in which made provision stating that one of the functions of
E.F.C.C. is the investigation of money laundering; The N.D.L.E.A. functions
with four paramount missions, which include:
- Eradicate illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances.
- Reduce the demand for illicit drugs and other
substances.
- Recover ill gotten wealth, acquired from the proceeds
of illicit drug trade and
- To protect, enhance and maintain the image of Nigeria
and Nigerians at home and abroad.
The last two missions of the N.D.L.E.A. are the basis
for the relationship. The recovering of ill-gotten wealth acquired
from the proceed of illicit drug trade is also a mission of E.F.C.C. which is a
little bit extended because E.F.C.C. is involved in the confiscation of
properties and buildings. Protecting, enhancing and maintaining the image of
Nigeria and Nigerians at home and aboard is an area where both the E.F.C.C. and
N.D.L.E.A. function as one. E.F.C.C. lends to protect the image of the country
that have been known for financial impunities and corruption which
even in major airports of the world, it is made obvious to beware of Nigerians
N.D.L.E.A. tends to also protect the image of the country through its
activities.
The
relationship between the two bodies also manifested when the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency intercepted a large consignment of cocaine that was valued
at N49.7 billion, the largest haul in
Africa. In the preceding interview, the director National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency, Mr. Dan Isaiah, his director of operations and general
investigation, Abiodun Adesola and Jonah Adiema fielded questions from Wole
Arisekola of the street journal, especially on the activity of Nigerians
alleged to be behind the supply of hard drugs into Ireland as well as being
responsible for the influx of 30% of drugs consumed in Europe like Italy and
Switzerland. The N.D.L.E.A. also has this to say, ‘some of the
suspects are not engaged in any gainful employment and they go about spending
several millions, but if there is a good working relationship
with a body like E.F.C.C., they should be able to establish a case with that.
48 In essence E.F.C.C. aids the activities of the N.D.L.E.A. in the area of
investigating questionable wealth, while N.D.L.E.A. looks out for the carriers
of the substance.