Ashiru rejects interference allegations, urges NDLEA to prosecute drug offenders

The Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to prosecute anyone arrested for involvement in illicit drug activities.

The senator’s remarks followed allegations from the NDLEA accusing him of attempting to shield individuals linked to drug offences from prosecution.

During a Senate session last week, Senator Ashiru voiced support for a bill proposing the establishment of the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.

He welcomed the initiative, citing concerns about corruption and compromise within the NDLEA, which he described as a “compromised” agency.

In response, the NDLEA, through its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, alleged in a press briefing on Monday that Senator Ashiru’s remarks were motivated by personal grievances.

Babafemi claimed that Ashiru had tried to prevent the arrest and trial of certain individuals found with drugs at his Ilorin residence and that the Senator’s comments were an attempt to discredit the agency.

Reacting swiftly to the NDLEA’s allegations, Senator Ashiru’s special assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju, issued a statement refuting the claims. Adeyanju called on the NDLEA to proceed with prosecuting anyone found guilty of drug-related offences and challenged the agency to provide evidence supporting its accusations.

“The NDLEA claims to have discovered drugs in Senator Ashiru’s Ilorin home, but they have yet to disclose which court the accused individuals were charged to,” the statement read. It further stressed that Senator Ashiru has consistently spoken out against the NDLEA’s corruption, which may explain the recent accusations against him.

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The statement also clarified that Ashiru had no involvement in efforts to influence the dropping of charges against a person named Tosin Odepidian, a name unfamiliar to the Senator.

“The Senator has always maintained that anyone found guilty of drug offences should be prosecuted according to the law,” the statement concluded.

This development adds to the growing debate around the integrity and effectiveness of the NDLEA. Senator Ashiru’s strong stance on drug-related crimes reflects broader concerns about the agency’s ability to combat Nigeria’s illicit drug trade without internal corruption or compromise.