NGO SWINDLES GOVT; TOP OFFICIAL IMPLICATED

In what appears as a perpetual fraud, a Non-Governmental Organisation
(NGO) in Kaduna, The Campaign against Substance and Drug Abuse
(CASADA), has allegedly swindled the government of 2 million naira in
the name of organising a workshop against drug abuse among youths.

The NGO, CASADA had, in, July 17, 2007 approached the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Commandant, Mohammed Malami Sokoto to
collaborate and hold a workshop on the menace of drug abuse among
youths in Zaria , of which a covering letter was written to the
Governor Namadi Sambo by NDLEA, and he approved the sum.

But the Co-ordinator of the NGO, Mohammed Sani, went behind on March
this year, collected the N2million and even gave a top government
official N500,000 and another protocol officer (names withheld)
N200,000 and spent the rest without holding the workshop.

After some days, the NDLEA Commandant, Malami Sokoto whose name and
image of the Agency was at stake, sent for the NGO Co-ordinator
several times, but he refused to honour the summon but, at one time
even told his driver that he had given so and so amount to some
people in the government, and spent the rest.

Later, he sent for his arrest, while some of his property was brought
to their office in Zaria.