The Senate has summoned the Chairman of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, General Buba Marwa to address allegations raised against Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South).
The agency on Monday claimed that Senator Ashiru made negative comments about the NDLEA after its refusal to halt the arrest and prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in drug abuse at his residence.
A six-member panel, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), was also raised to investigate the matter. Other members include Senators Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT), Afolabi Shuaibu (APC, Ogun Central), and Lawal Usman (PDP, Kaduna Central).
Senator Ashiru at plenary raised a point of order, invoking Senate Standing Order 42, expressing concern that the accusations have damaged his integrity. He clarified that he does not consume alcohol or carbonated drinks, only water, and urged the Senate to address the issue seriously.
The decision was made after a closed-door session on Tuesday.
Credible News recalls that Senator Ashiru had described as false, baseless and an afterthought, the allegations linking him with some arrested persons dealing in illicit drugs by the NDLEA.
Recall that the NDLEA, in a seeming face-saving press conference on Monday by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi had told newsmen how the anti-narcotic agency had to subject itself to wasteful efforts targeted at sniffing out falsehood against Senator Ashiru for expressing his view about the agency on the floor of the Senate.
“Based on credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed that the Senator’s house was being used as a drug joint for drug dealers and users, the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30pm on February 4, 2024 during which the two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.
“In another encounter with the senator, the Agency also received intelligence that some of his boys popularly known as ‘Omo Senator’ operating from his home town, Offa, were equally dealing in illicit drugs. A raid was subsequently carried out on their joint in Offa where one of them, Oluwatosin Odepidan was arrested and illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and cannabis recovered from him on June 11, 2023,” Babafemi had told the journalist.
READ ALSO : Senator Ashiru slams NDLEA for engaging in face-saving tackles
Responding to the agency’s claims, the lawmaker, in a statement by his legislative aide, Olaitan Adeyanju said: “We find it preposterous and mere fishing for justification that NDLEA had to wait for the Senator’s observation on the floor of the Senate before making its spurious allegations.
“As a matter of fact, Senator Ashiru never employed any aide bearing Ibrahim Mohammed or Mohammd Yahaya as bandied by NDLEA.”
“While the house of the Senator was indeed searched for whatever reason or information it got, as a law abiding citizen, not only was the house searched, but Senator Ashiru extended maximum cooperation to the operatives of the NDLEA to comb the entire house without anything incriminating found either on him or in the premises.
“If any drugs were found on certain persons as mentioned by the NDLEA, it is only rational to ask at which court of law the culprits were charged; except the anti-narcotic agency has totally become derelict that it needed to be force-fed before performing its mandate.
“It is also important to state that Senator Ashiru did not send any aide to the NDLEA to influence dropping of drug allegations against the invented Tosin Odepidian who is totally unknown to him. Indeed, all the names mentioned by the agency are strange, as none of those these persons was either employed or have direct or indirect relationship whatsoever with Senator Ashiru.
“As a creation of the law, the NDLEA owes the nation a duty to take cognizance of legislative expressions by those saddled with the responsibility to do so without sliding into personal attacks over expression taken by Senator Ashiru on matters of utmost importance such as retooling the Nigeria’s fight against illicit substance, a scourge that is wrestling the soul of our nation as evidenced by the spate of drug-induced criminal activities and its pathetic influence on the youths.
“While the NDLEA has the responsibility to prosecute suspected drug dealers in court of competent jurisdiction, it remains unthinkable that the agency waited for eight whole months on the voyage of name-calling and engaging media trial, rather than dragging the Senator before the court if it indeed found anything criminal associated with him.
“It is an open secret that many criminals, cultists, armed robbers and drug addicts find their way back into business after gratifying law enforcement officers. The NDLEA ought to search its house and fish out bad eggs rather than seeking cheap publicity.
“Senator Ashiru remains committed to serving the people of Kwara South and indeed Nigerians by upholding the truth at all times even while working in partnership with his counterparts and other stakeholders in the search to deepen professionalism, engender reforms and enhance the efficiency of our law enforcement agencies, and the NDLEA will not be an exemption.”
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