By Kolawole Ojebisi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has explained the reason why the Deputy Majority Leader of the green chamber, Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, is casting aspersions on the institution.
The agency alleged that a cache of illicit drugs was found in the lawmaker’s home.
NDLEA’s Director of Media, Femi Babafemi revealed this on Monday while addressing a press conference.
He ascribed the senator’s outburst to a damning dossier the NDLEA has about him
“The personal house of the senator in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in recent past, where drugs and illicit substances were recovered while two of his aides: Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya were arrested,” Babafemi said.
“Based on credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed that the senators 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.
“So, going by this backstory, it is deductible that these encounters that the Agency has had with the senator, must have been responsible for his outburst, and unfortunately, false allegation, the type that nobody within and outside of government has ever levelled against NDLEA before.
“Suffice it to say that in the past three years, NDLEA has emerged as a regional leader among national drug law enforcement agencies. So, come to think about it, an agency so badmouthed by Senator Ashiru couldn’t have been attracting such international goodwill and commendation for being the “most corrupt government agency” in Nigeria.
“Against the background of our encounter with people linked to him, we are wont to believe that Senator Ashiru’s invectives against NDLEA were borne out of vendetta and not any opinion made in the public interest.”
The NDLEA’s address was in reaction to Ashiru’s attack on the agency’s reputation.
Ashiru, who is a Senator representing Kwara South, said the agency is the “most corrupt and compromised government agency” in the country and there is a need to establish a new organisation to curb drug addiction and trafficking.
The senator made the allegation while contributing to a debate on a bill seeking to establish an institute for drug awareness and rehabilitation.
During that debate, Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano south, alleged that the homes of some politicians are being used to stockpile narcotics.
Meanwhile, disclosing the remarkable feats the agency has achieved in the past three years, Babafemi said the NDLEA has made over 52,000 arrests and secured more than 9,000 convictions.
