THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has claimed that the senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District, Oyelola Ashiru, attacked the agency after it discovered drugs in his home a few months ago.
The NDLEA stated this during a press conference held at its national headquarters in Abuja on Monday, October 21.
The anti-drug agency said the recent attack on its image by Ashiru was borne out of malice and vendetta rather than based on any selfless motive or national interest.
Reacting to reports credited to Ashiru, where he said the NDLEA is corrupt and compromised, among others, the agency, through its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said it traced the senator’s claims back to encounters between him and the agency.
Babafemi claimed that two of Ashiru’s aides, Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammad Yahaya, were arrested during a recent raid on his residence in GRA Ilorin, Kwara State capital, during which narcotics and other illegal substances were found.
“Based on credible intelligence and surveillance that 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 1:30 pm 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 were recovered from him on June 11, 2023.
“The bid to get the agency to drop the case against Odepidan, including a visit to the Kwara State command headquarters of the agency in Ilorin by the personal assistant to the senator, one Omoluabi, was rebuffed as Odepidan was promptly charged to court and prosecuted. Though the culprit jumped court bail in 2023, he was re-arrested in 2024 after the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He was eventually convicted and sentenced in June 2024,” the NDLEA said.
Babafemi stated that Ashiru’s remarks about the NDLEA were uncomplimentary, unfounded, and defamatory.
Speaking during the discussion of a “Bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation,” Ashiru claimed that the NDLEA had failed, and supported setting up the new agency.
He said that the high rate of drug trafficking in the nation was because of NDLEA’s failure.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised; hence, I support the creation of the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation,” Ashiru stated.
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