Senator Ashiru fires back at NDLEA over allegations of harbouring drug offenders

By Iyojo Ameh

The Deputy Leader of the Senate , Senator Lola Ashiru has refuted allegations leveled against him on harbouring of drug offenders in his Kwara homes by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) .

NDLEA had through a press conference by its Director , Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi in Abuja on Monday ,
alleged that disparaging comments made by Senator Ashiru last week Tuesday on the floor of the Senate against it , were borne out of vendetta .

Babafemi at the press conference said description of NDLEA by Senator Ashiru as a corrupt and compromised agency last week Tuesday during debate on a bill seeking for establishment of a new drug control body , was borne out of vendetta .

He specifically alleged that Senator Ashiru made the disparaging comments on NDLEA as a result of his alleged failure to stop the anti – drug agency from arresting and prosecuting drug offenders found in his house in Ilorin and Offa last year .

But Senator Ashiru through a statement signed by his Legislative Aide , Olaitan Adeyanju, refuted all the allegations made by NDLEA and accused it of creating wrong and fallacious impressions on his personality for saying the obvious fact about NDLEA in the Senate .

The statement reads : ” The NDLEA alleged that Senator Ashiru’s house in Ilorin, Kwara State, was raided, and illicit drugs were found.

“This accusation comes on the heels of Senator Ashiru’s declaration on the senate floor that the NDLEA is corrupt and compromised .

“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 aid bearing Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammd Yahaya as bandied by NDLEA.

“The agency claimed that it operatives visited the senator’s Ilorin house and found nothing incriminating.

” 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 were the culprits charged?

“It is also important to state that Senator Ashiru has not sent any aide to the NDLEA to influence the dropping of drug allegations against anyone known as Tosin Odepidian.

“Indeed, all the names mentioned by the agency are strange, and none works directly or indirectly with Senator Ashiru.

“The NDLEA has the duty to take anyone suspected of drug dealing to court rather than name- calling and engaging in media trial.

“This clarification aims to set the record straight and address the misleading information circulated by the NDLEA.

“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!

“Senator Ashiru remains committed to serving the people of Kwara South and upholding the truth at all times in the search for strict professionalism among our law enforcement agencies”