NDLEA Speaks On Arresting Naira Marley Few Days After Making Him Ambassador

NDLEA Speaks On Arresting Naira Marley Few Days After Making Him Ambassador

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has asserted its commitment to apprehend and prosecute the controversial artist Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, if he is found in possession of drugs, regardless of their partnership.

The Director of Media and Advocacy for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH Beats.

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Babafemi clarified that the NDLEA intentionally engaged Naira Marley for its drug abuse awareness campaign due to his significant influence over his young followers, known as ‘Marlians,’ who consider him a role model.

Earlier, the engagement of Naira Marley as an ambassador to NDLEA to campaign against drug abuse triggered criticism on Nigerians on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The backlash followed a statement by Babafemi, announcing the agency’s collaboration with Naira Marley to combat the use and possession of illegal substances and hard drugs.

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In defense of the agency’s decision to involve Naira Marley in its campaign, Babafemi explained that this collaboration doesn’t exempt the artist from potential legal consequences. He stressed that the agency’s responsibility is to promote advocacy messages discouraging substance abuse, regardless of the ambassador’s involvement.

Babafemi added, “Last year, we arrested some of his artists (Zinoleesky and Mohbad). That is to show that we are not closing our eyes. If the same Naira Marley is caught with illicit substances tomorrow, he will face sanctions.”

Naira Marley, a musician renowned for glorifying marijuana use, had visited the NDLEA office in the past. Despite his associations with marijuana, he had claimed to smoke but not engage in drugs.

The artist even released a song titled ‘Marry Juana,’ expressing his affinity for marijuana. In this song, Naira Marley sings, “I just wanna marry Juana, please let me marry Juana, cannabis in the rizla, so high I can’t get higher.”

Naira Marley had also faced legal troubles in the past, including charges of credit card fraud and money laundering.

He was arraigned on these charges but was subsequently granted bail.