The Senate Tuesday resolved to probe wild allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against its Deputy Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (APC Kwara South) on drug related cases.
This is as it frowned at the anti-drug agency for using comments made by Senator Ashiru last week during debate on bill seeking for establishment of rehabilitation centre for drug addicts as basis of its allegations against him.
It consequently set up a 6-man Ad-hoc committee to probe the allegations and report back within a week.
Members of the 6-man Ad-hoc committee which is to be chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA Abia South), are Senators Kaka Shehu (APC Borno Central), Ireti Kingibe (LP FCT), Afolabi Shuaib Salisu (APC Ogun Central), Ede Dafinone (APC Delta Central) and Senator Lawal Usman (PDP Kaduna Central).
The Senate decisions followed a motion moved to that effect by Senator Lola Ashiru who through Order 42, made personal explanations on allegations levelled against him by the NDLEA.
Senator Ashiru in the motion, lamented to the Senate that the NDLEA in the allegations levelled against him on Monday, breached his privileges as a serving senator and by extension, that of the Senate by using comments made by him in the hallowed chamber on effectiveness of NDLEA, to attack and cast aspersions on him.
He said the allegation against him by the agency was baseless and unfounded, stressing that the NDLEA was angry because he contributed to a proposed bill on drug related agencies on Tuesday 15th October, 2024.
He urged the Senate to take action on the matter, saying “the allegation was an infringement on my person, my privileges as a sitting Senator and the integrity of the entire Senate which has been brought into opprobrium.
“Mr President, I come under Order 42 to clear insinuation published especially by Daily Trust that Senator Ashiru is involved in distribution of drugs.
“In my life – I am 68 years now – I assert that I cannot even identify cannabis or any drug. Beyond taking water, I don’t take or consume drugs, I don’t drink caffeine, I don’t even drink carbonated drinks.
“Your Excellency, my reaction and my finding is simple. The basis of this debased publication could only be traced to my contribution on the floor of the Senate and i want the Senate to take appropriate action on the wild allegations against me by NDLEA,” he said.
In his remarks before setting up the Ad – hoc committee, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio slammed NDLEA for attacking Ashiru based on comments made in the hallowed chamber.
He said: “I feel that whatever the NDLEA is doing must have been based on your submission here.
“If the NDLEA felt that you were a drug baron, they should have arrested you before you got to 30 years, they should have arrested you before you got to 50, they should have arrested you before you were 60, before you were 65 and not at the age of 68 because you contributed to a debate.
“I think Nigerians are not aware of the Constitution and the laws. Anything you say here is privilege and it is covered with immunity and is not subject to debate on the Radio or Television.
“I don’t want to jump to conclusions. You have never been invited by NDLEA ; have never been charged by NDLEA and the NDLEA has never said anything about you.
“Distinguished colleagues, an injury to one is an injury to all and we are going to constitute an Ad-hoc Committee to invite the NDLEA with a view to taking a drastic action.”