Kwara South Senator, Oyelola Ashiru, 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.
The deputy senate leader disclosed this in a statement issued by his legislative aide, Olaitan Adeyanju, on Monday. The NDLEA had previously claimed it discovered hard drugs and other illicit substances in Mr Ashiru’s home during a raid in February, responding to the senator’s allegations that the agency was ineffective and compromised in its duties.
“The entire house was searched, and nothing incriminating was found,” Ashiru stated. “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 statement further clarified that Senator Ashiru has not attempted to influence the NDLEA regarding 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,” it added.
The senator expressed concern over the timing of the NDLEA’s claims, stating, “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.”
In his statement, Ashiru 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!”
Senator Ashiru reiterated his commitment to serving the people of Kwara South and upholding the truth in the pursuit of professionalism among law enforcement agencies.