Kwara South Senator Oyelola Ashiru confirmed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided his residence in Ilorin, but insisted that the anti-drug agency did not find any hard drugs or other illicit substances in the process.
Ashiru, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, disclosed this in a statement by his legislative assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju, on Monday.
The anti-drug agency had on Monday claimed that it found hard drugs and other illicit substances when it raided Ashiru's house in Ilorin in February.
The agency was responding to Mr Ashiru's claim that it was ineffective and had been compromised in its duty. The senator made the claim last week during debate on the bill to create the National Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Institute.
Nothing incriminating was found.
In the statement, Ashiru said the anti-drug agency searched his house but 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 in which court the culprits were charged.
“It is also important to state that Senator Ashiru has not sent any aide to the NDLEA to influence the withdrawal of drug charges against someone known as Tosin Odepidian. In fact, all the names mentioned by the agency are strange and none of them work directly or indirectly with Senator Ashiru,” the statement added.
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“We find it absurd and a mere search for justification that the NDLEA had to wait for the senator's observation on the Senate floor before making its spurious accusations.
In fact, Senator Ashiru never employed any help to bring in Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya as advertised by the NDLEA.”
Lawsuit
The senator urged the anti-drug agency to bring charges in court against anyone found guilty of dealing and using hard drugs, rather than launching a “media trial.”
“NDLEA has a duty to bring any suspected drug traffickers to court instead of insulting them and engaging in a media trial.
“This clarification is intended to set the record straight and address misleading information circulated by the NDLEA.
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“It is an open secret that many criminals, cultists, armed robbers and drug addicts find their way back into the business after pleasing law enforcement officers. The NDLEA should search your house and remove the bad eggs instead of seeking cheap publicity!
“Senator Ashiru remains committed to serving the people of Kwara South and upholding the truth at all times in the pursuit of strict professionalism among our law enforcement agencies.”