The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that it recovered illicit drugs from the house of Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, representing Kwara South, following his accusations that the agency is corrupt.
The NDLEA disclosed this during a media briefing, stating that Senator Ashiru’s attacks on the agency are driven by personal vendetta after previous raids on his property.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa, speaking through Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, described the senator’s claims as baseless and defamatory.
Babafemi said Senator Ashiru’s house in Ilorin, Kwara State, was raided earlier this year, and a consignment of illicit drugs was seized.
The NDLEA also reported that three of Ashiru’s aides had been arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced, with one aide jailed in June 2024.
At the media briefing, Babafemi said, “Senator Ashiru’s comments about the NDLEA being corrupt and compromised are false and based on personal bitterness.”
Senator Ashiru had made the accusations during a Senate plenary session, while contributing to a debate on a bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.
He claimed that the NDLEA had failed to tackle drug trafficking and supported the creation of a new agency to handle drug awareness and rehabilitation in Nigeria.
“The failure of NDLEA has resulted in the high rate of drug trafficking going on in the country. The NDLEA is corrupt and compromised,” Ashiru said during the plenary.
His remarks sparked outrage from the NDLEA, which has since responded with evidence of its encounters with the senator and his aides.
Babafemi revealed that the NDLEA had raided Senator Ashiru’s house in February 2024, where drugs were found, and two of his aides were arrested.
According to the NDLEA, the raid was conducted based on credible intelligence that linked the senator’s house to illicit drug activities.
“The senator’s house was being used as a drug joint for dealers and users,” Babafemi stated.
He went on to say that in another encounter, one of Ashiru’s associates was arrested with methamphetamine and cannabis at a drug joint in Offa, his hometown.
The arrested individual, Oluwatosin Odepidan, was convicted and sentenced to prison in June 2024.
Babafemi emphasized that Ashiru’s negative statements about the NDLEA stem from these arrests and the agency’s refusal to drop the charges against his aides.
“In view of these encounters, it’s clear that Senator Ashiru’s attack on NDLEA is driven by personal interest and not the public good,” Babafemi declared.
The NDLEA also highlighted its recent achievements in drug enforcement to counter the senator’s allegations.
Babafemi said that despite Senator Ashiru’s attempts to tarnish its reputation, the agency continues to receive praise from international partners for its efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse.
“Just a day after Senator Ashiru made his accusations, we commissioned a new Marine Command Headquarters in Lagos, built with support from the UK government,” Babafemi noted.
He added that other countries, including the United States, France, and Germany, have been providing equipment and support to the NDLEA because of its commitment to fighting drug-related crimes.
The agency pointed to its successes over the past three years, during which it made over 52,000 arrests and secured more than 9,000 convictions, including three life sentences this year.
The NDLEA has also carried out over 7,000 drug awareness programs in schools, workplaces, and communities across the country.
“Our record speaks for itself. Senator Ashiru’s attempt to discredit us will not affect our dedication to dismantling drug networks, even those connected to his residence,” Babafemi said.
In an effort to explain the NDLEA’s position further, Babafemi accused the senator of using his political platform to mislead the public and damage the agency’s image.
He said, “Senator Ashiru’s statements are a gross misrepresentation of the facts. His comments in the Senate were made out of malice, not in the interest of the Nigerian people.”
The NDLEA vowed to remain undeterred by the senator’s attacks and will continue its efforts to fight drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria.
“We will not be distracted by this. We will keep working to dismantle all illicit drug networks across the country, including those operating from the senator’s residence,” Babafemi concluded.
