THE Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has decried the absence of the sitting judge in the federal high court, Yenagoa, capital city.

Josephine Obi, Bayelsa State commander of the NDLEA, lamented while parading 64 persons in possession of more than 38 kilograms of illicit drugs at the command’s headquarters in Yenagoa.

The federal high court Yenagoa and the National Industrial Court have not sat for about seven months over alleged corruption charges against the judges of the two courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

She disclosed that the command has not been able to prosecute any case in court, blaming the absence of the judge of the federal high court in Yenagoa for the situation. The NDLEA boos, in the same faction said that the situation was seriously undermining the operations of the agency, which cells are congested with inmates.

The 64 suspects, who include 45 males and 19 females, NDLEA said, were arrested between January and April, this year for offences ranging from peddling cocaine, Heroine, cannabis and other Psychotropic drugs.

Obi also said during the arrest of some of the suspects, it recovered one locally made pistol and a revolver pistol, one hand grenade, five rounds of ammunitions and a handcuff from a suspect.

The commander said the suspects were arrested in separate locations such as Ogbia, Yenagoa, East/West road area and in Kaiama axis all in Bayelsa State.

She also explained that the command impounded a Toyota Jeep, V8 from one of the middle drug men used in conveying drugs, insisting that the command was still combing for the big barons.

Obi equally said over 239 persons had been counselled on the dangers of using hard drugs.

The 64 suspects, Obi said, would be prosecuted accordingly as soon as the judge of the Federal High court in Yenagoa resumes sitting.

On March 23, this year, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Yenagoa and Sagbama chapters protested the absence of the Judges of the federal high court, Yenagoa and the National Industrial Court in a press conference.

The two courts have been under lock and keys following corruption allegations against Justice Aliya Nganjiwa of the federal high court Yenagoa and Justice Terse Agbadua-Fishin of the NIC by the EFCC.

—  Apr 18, 2017 @ 16:00 GMT