Ex-lawmaker gets seven-year jail for drug trafficking

A former member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Missa Bobbo, and a notorious drug baron, Bappa Madu, of Ngurore town have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment each by a Federal High Court in Yola.

Bobbo was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in connection with unlawful possession of narcotics in 2013 while Bappa, who has twenty-five children, was arrested in June 2015.

According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, Bobbo was convicted for possessing 81.9kg of cannabis sativa while Bappa was found guilty of possessing 61.6kg of tramadol.

Justice Balkisu Aliyu described the involvement of the former legislator in drug trafficking as shameful during his sentencing.

Bobbo was a member of the House of Assembly in Adamawa State representing Leko-Koma Constituency between 1991 and 1993.

He was also a member of the national constitutional conference in 1995. Apart from the dried weeds of cannabis found on him; fresh plants of cannabis were also harvested from his cannabis farm.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, in his reaction, described the action of the former lawmaker as distasteful adding that the conviction would serve as deterrent to others.

Giade said, “There are no sacred cows in the war against drug trafficking. Anyone involved in criminal acts must be prepared for the day of judgement. This arrest and conviction further validate the fact that the law is supreme.

“NDLEA will continue to work towards a society that is free from drug trafficking and abuse. Both cases are significant because Bobbo is a former legislator and the second convict is a notorious drug trafficker that deals in psychotropic substances in the state.”

The Adamawa State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Yakubu Kibo, said the arrest of the two convicts was a welcome development as their activities were negatively affecting the lifestyle of most youths in the state.

“The command is working very hard to reduce cases of substance abuse especially among young people. I am happy with the conviction because of the consequences of their illegal drug activities. In addition to arrest and prosecution of drug dealers, the command conducts anti-drug abuse education in schools, motor parks and other places to sensitise people on the consequences of drug production, trafficking and abuse.” Yakubu stated.