Senator Oyelola Ashiru has firmly denied allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that illicit drugs were found at his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The NDLEA had claimed in a press statement on October 21, 2024, that its operatives raided the senator’s house and discovered illegal substances.
However, Senator Ashiru’s office swiftly issued a counter-statement, calling the accusations false and politically motivated.
The allegations surfaced shortly after the senator raised concerns on the Senate floor about corruption within the NDLEA.
In response to the NDLEA’s accusations, Senator Ashiru’s office released a statement describing the drug claims as “preposterous” and part of a vendetta against him following his criticism of the agency.
The senator had recently accused the NDLEA of corruption during a Senate session, leading many to believe that the agency’s sudden accusations were a form of retaliation.
“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,” the statement read.
Senator Ashiru, who represents Kwara South in the National Assembly, insists that no drugs were found in his home, and he described the entire situation as an attempt to discredit him.
The NDLEA’s statement alleged that operatives had visited the senator’s residence and discovered incriminating substances.
Senator Ashiru’s office, however, firmly denies this claim, stating that the NDLEA operatives did search the house, but they found nothing illegal.
“The agency claimed that its operatives visited the senator’s Ilorin house and found nothing incriminating,” his office said.
Ashiru’s team also pointed out that no formal charges had been filed against anyone supposedly involved in drug activities at the senator’s residence.
“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?” the senator’s statement questioned.
One of the key elements of the NDLEA’s claim involved individuals the agency said were connected to Senator Ashiru.
However, the senator has denied any affiliation with the people named in the NDLEA’s report.
The NDLEA mentioned two individuals, Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya, as aides to the senator, alleging that they were involved in the drug-related activities.
But Senator Ashiru’s office made it clear that neither of these individuals had ever worked for him, directly or indirectly.
“As a matter of fact, Senator Ashiru never employed any aide bearing Ibrahim Mohammed or Mohammed Yahaya as bandied by NDLEA,” the statement clarified.
Similarly, the NDLEA claimed that one Tosin Odepidian, another individual allegedly linked to the senator, was involved in drug-related offenses. The agency further suggested that Ashiru had tried to use his influence to clear Odepidian’s name.
However, the senator’s office denied any such connection or intervention, stating that Odepidian’s name was completely unfamiliar to them.
“It is 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,” the statement added.
In a striking turn, Senator Ashiru fired back at the NDLEA, accusing the agency of corruption.
He alleged that many drug dealers and criminals were able to walk free by bribing law enforcement officers, suggesting that the NDLEA should focus on cleaning its own ranks rather than targeting him.
“It is an open secret that many criminals, cultists, armed robbers, and drug addicts find their way back into business after gratifying and bribing law enforcement officers,” Ashiru’s statement read.
The senator challenged the NDLEA to address its internal issues and “fish out bad eggs,” instead of launching what he described as a “media trial” against him.
Senator Ashiru concluded his statement by reaffirming his commitment to serving the people of Kwara South with integrity.
He expressed his frustration over the NDLEA’s allegations, describing them as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
However, the senator maintained that he would not be deterred by what he called the agency’s baseless claims.
“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,” his office declared.
Ashiru emphasized the importance of professionalism in law enforcement, calling on the NDLEA to act responsibly and avoid the use of media as a tool for character assassination.
This clash between Senator Ashiru and the NDLEA comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies, which have frequently faced allegations of corruption and misconduct.
Observers have noted that public figures who criticize powerful institutions like the NDLEA often find themselves at the receiving end of accusations.
Political analysts argue that this pattern of behavior may undermine public trust in both the NDLEA and other law enforcement bodies.
The NDLEA has long been tasked with fighting drug-related crimes in Nigeria, but accusations of corruption and bribery have plagued its operations for years.
The back-and-forth between the agency and Senator Ashiru has only deepened suspicions that the NDLEA might be using its authority to intimidate or silence critics.
The controversy between Senator Ashiru and the NDLEA has stirred reactions across Kwara State and beyond.
Many of Ashiru’s supporters have rallied behind him, accusing the NDLEA of launching a politically motivated attack against a respected senator.
Others, however, have expressed concern about the seriousness of the NDLEA’s allegations and have called for a full investigation into the matter.
