First Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay has challenged Nayele Ametefe to disclose the names of politicians she claimed are linked to the illegal drug trade.
According to him, her allegations will amount to nothing if they are not backed by the names of the people she made reference to in court after her sentencing.
Nayele Ametefe alleged that she was protected by some politicians in 2004 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power after she was handed an eight year jail term but refused to mention names saying she wants to protect the lives of her three children.
But speaking in an interview with Citi News, the NPP Vice Chairman said until Nayele reveals the identity of those in high places who aided her, she could as well be taking the whole nation for a ride.
“If she knows that people helped her and according to her they did, then she should mention their names. Other than that she should shut up. …cocaine under any regime, either NDC or NPP is bad…it is spoiling our children and they must stop it and deal with it,” he stated.
[contextly_sidebar id=”XKYDS3mPO9Jdh3T1aARN631SSDdffsZj”]Nayele was arrested at the Heathrow Airport in November 2014 for attempting to smuggle 12 kg of cocaine into the United Kingdom(UK).
She was sentenced to 8 years, 8 months in jail by a London Court; Isleworth Crown Court, in UK and is expected to serve
Her sentence includes community service and it is expected that she will serve half of her sentence in jail. The forensic analysis on the cocaine showed a 79% purity and the street value is estimated at about 1.8 million Pounds.
She is reported to have had in her possession, £23,000 and $6,000 when she was arrested, which is currently in the custody of the UK Border agency.
Confiscation of Nayele’s properties
In a related development, the mother of Nayele Ametefe has resisted attempts by some officials of the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) to confiscate her[Nayele’s] residential property at East Legon, a suburb of Accra.
Nayele’s mother is said to have assaulted one of the NACOB officials who had been sent to carry out that duty.
Sections 13, 14, 17 and 18 of Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanctions) law – 1990 (PNDCL 236) stipulates that the Attorney General (AG) must make an application for the forfeiture of the properties of persons convicted for drug related offences.
Nayele’s judgement won’t affect others – Lawyer
Meanwhile lawyer for Abiel Ashitey Armah, one of the six persons charged with abetment in connection with the Nayele cocaine scandal, Frank Davies, has dismissed claims that the latter’s sentencing will have an impact on the trial of the six here in Ghana.
This according to him is because Nayele and her lawyer never mentioned any of the six accused who had been asked to appear before the local court.
He was reacting to the thoughts of a former state attorney Bright Akwetey that the lawyers of the six standing trial in connection with the Nayele case will have an uphill task exonerating their clients, once she is sentenced.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News however, Frank Davies described the claim as disingenuous and wondered if the trial, which is set to begin today will even continue.
“ I must state categorically that whatever sentence has been handed down by the UK Court has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with the trial here in Ghana. Interestingly Nayele never mentioned any of the six accused persons who had been arraigned in Ghana…I wonder if that trial will even go further”
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah