The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, has stated that if Naira Marley is found in possession of illegal drugs, the NDLEA won’t hesitate to make an arrest.
He revealed this in an interview with Punch, where he also clarified how the organization purposefully worked with the contentious musician Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, for its anti-drug addiction campaign.
Critics had taken issue with
Naira Marley’s advice in a video on keeping kids away from illegal drugs.
Given the artist’s history of celebrating and supporting drug use, this was particularly significant.
Babafemi said,
“It is an advocacy engagement with him. It is what we do as part of the responsibilities of the agency to promote advocacy messages that would discourage people from substance abuse. It is about the message.
“Don’t forget that he has a lot of young followers— Marlians— that look up to him. The idea is for the leader of the movement (Marlians) to come out and ask people to stop substance abuse, and live a new life.”
The spokesman for the drug agency said that just because Marley is a spokesperson for the organization, that doesn’t mean that he won’t be arrested if found in possession of illegal drugs.
He said,
“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.”
Babafemi added that critics should consider the message and not focus on the messenger.
