Senator Oyelola Ashiru has strongly denied allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which claimed that illicit drugs were discovered during a raid on his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The NDLEA’s press statement, issued on October 21, 2024, comes after the senator’s critical remarks on the Senate floor, where he accused the agency of corruption.
Read Also: NDLEA secures multiple drug convictions in Kano
In a statement released by Olaitan Adeyanju, a legislative aide to Senator Ashiru, the senator expressed disbelief at the timing of the allegations, suggesting that they were a response to his recent comments. “It is preposterous and mere fishing for justification that NDLEA had to wait until after the senator’s observations in the Senate before making these spurious claims,” Adeyanju said.
The NDLEA’s allegations included claims that individuals connected to the senator were involved in drug-related activities. However, the senator’s office refuted this, clarifying that none of the individuals mentioned by the NDLEA, including those identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, Mohammed Yahaya, or Tosin Odepidian, were employed by or affiliated with Senator Ashiru. “Indeed, all the names mentioned by the agency are strange, and none works directly or indirectly with Senator Ashiru,” Adeyanju added.
The senator’s office further emphasized that nothing incriminating was found during the search of his Ilorin home. “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?” Adeyanju questioned.
Senator Ashiru also called on the NDLEA to focus on internal reforms rather than engaging in what he described as a media trial. “The NDLEA has a duty to take anyone suspected of drug dealing to court rather than name-calling and engaging in media trials. The agency should search its house and fish out bad eggs instead of seeking cheap publicity,” the statement read.
Despite the allegations, Senator Ashiru reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Kwara South and advocating for professionalism within law enforcement agencies.
