Senate Deputy Leader Oyelola Ashiru has called on the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to prosecute anyone arrested by its operatives for involvement in illicit drugs.
This challenge follows a public spat between the senator and the anti-narcotics agency over recent allegations.
Ashiru, while speaking in the Senate last Wednesday during the debate on a Bill proposing the establishment of a National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, criticized the NDLEA.
He stated, “NDLEA is corrupt and already compromised,” and expressed support for the new proposal, describing it as a necessary move to address the country’s drug abuse crisis.
In response, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, accused Ashiru of making “vindictive” comments due to the agency’s refusal to halt the arrest and trial of individuals allegedly involved in drug activities in the senator’s residence.
Babafemi stated on Monday that the senator’s remarks were motivated by personal grievances.
“The senator made those disparaging comments because he failed to stop the arrest and trial of some persons allegedly found to be involved in drug abuse in his house,” Babafemi alleged.
Reacting to the NDLEA’s accusations, Ashiru’s special assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju, issued a statement defending the senator and challenging the agency to bring any suspects to justice.
“The NDLEA claims to have discovered drugs in Senator Ashiru’s Ilorin house, but there’s no information on which court of law the culprits were charged to,” the statement read.
“In fact, Senator Ashiru has been vocal about the NDLEA’s corruption and compromise, which might be the reason behind these allegations.”
Adeyanju further clarified that Ashiru had not sent anyone to intervene in the case, particularly in relation to one Tosin Odepidian, whose name had surfaced in connection with the NDLEA’s allegations.
“The names mentioned by the agency are unfamiliar, and the Senator has challenged the agency to prosecute anyone that is found with illicit drugs,” Adeyanju added.
As the exchange between the senator and the NDLEA continues, the call for transparency and accountability in the handling of drug-related cases remains at the forefront of the debate.