The Deputy Senate Leader, Oyelola Ashiru, representing Kwara South, has confirmed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided his Ilorin residence but insisted that the anti-drug agency did not find any hard drugs or other illicit substances during the operation.
Ashiru disclosed this in a statement issued by his legislative aide, Olaitan Adeyanju, on Monday.
There has been some exchange between the senator and the government agency, sparked by Ashiru accusing NDLEA of being compromised.
NDLEA responded that the senator was only bitter that the agency raided his house in February and found some illicit drugs there.
Responding, Ashiru said, “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 Senator Ashiru denied attempting to influence the NDLEA regarding drug allegations against someone known as Tosin Odepidian.
“Indeed, all the names mentioned by the agency are strange, and none works directly or indirectly with Senator Ashiru,” the statement added.
“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 and Mohammed Yahaya as bandied by NDLEA”, the statement said.
He urged the NDLEA to charge anyone found guilty of drug-related offences in court rather than engaging in a “media trial.”
“The NDLEA has the duty to take anyone suspected of drug dealing to court rather than name-calling and engaging in media trial,” he emphasized.
“This clarification aims to set the record straight and address the misleading information circulated by the NDLEA.”
He also criticized the agency, saying, “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!”
