Senator Oyelola Ashiru, representing Kwara South, has strongly refuted claims by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) regarding the discovery of illicit substances during a February raid on his Ilorin residence.
Through a statement issued by his legislative aide, Olaitan Adeyanju, on Monday, the deputy senate leader acknowledged the raid but insisted no contraband was found.
The controversy erupted after the NDLEA responded to Senator Ashiru’s recent criticism of the agency during a Senate debate on the bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.
The senator had questioned the agency’s effectiveness and suggested it had become compromised in executing its duties.
Speaking through his aide, Senator Ashiru confirmed the thorough nature of the search: “The entire house was searched, and nothing incriminating was found. If any drugs were found on certain persons mentioned by the NDLEA, it is rational to ask at which court of law the culprits were charged.”
The statement also addressed allegations regarding potential interference with the agency’s operations:
“Senator Ashiru has not sent any aide to the NDLEA to influence the dropping of drug allegations against anyone known as Tosin Odepidian. Indeed, all the names mentioned by the agency are strange, and none works directly or indirectly with Senator Ashiru.”
The senator’s office expressed skepticism about the timing of the NDLEA’s claims: “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 aid bearing Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya as bandied by NDLEA.”
In a direct challenge to the agency’s methods, the senator called for proper legal proceedings rather than public accusations: “The NDLEA has the duty to take anyone suspected of drug dealing to court rather than name-calling and engaging in media trial.”
The statement further criticized the broader issues within law enforcement: “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 reaffirmed his dedication to public service: “Senator Ashiru remains committed to serving the people of Kwara South and upholding the truth at all times in the search for strict professionalism among our law enforcement agencies.”
