The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismissed recent “corrupt and compromised” accusations made against it by Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (Kwara South), claiming that the senator’s remarks are driven by personal vendetta rather than any legitimate national interest.

The NDLEA made this statement during a press briefing at its national headquarters in Abuja, responding to allegations by Senator Ashiru, who had accused the agency of corruption and being compromised. The agency described the senator’s comments, made during a plenary session of the Nigerian Senate, as defamatory and unprovoked.

While acknowledging the great work of the Senate towards the upliftment of Nigeria and Nigerians, especially their support for the ongoing concerted efforts towards the amendment of the NDLEA Act, the agency, however, said it is duty-bound to respond to the unprovoked attack against it by Senator Ashiru during his contribution to the debate on a new bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the NDLEA waited for a week for Senator Ashiru to clarify his accusations but, with no response, the agency decided to set the record straight. Babafemi confirmed that the Senate has the authority to establish new agencies and that the NDLEA would be willing to contribute to such debates. However, the NDLEA found the senator’s comments to be baseless and motivated by personal grievances.

Babafemi disclosed that a raid on Senator Ashiru’s residence in Ilorin, Kwara State, had been conducted earlier in the year, during which drugs and illicit substances were recovered, leading to the arrest of two of the senator’s aides. Additionally, another raid on drug dealers linked to the senator’s hometown, Offa, resulted in the arrest of a suspect found in possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

“The personal house of the senator in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in the recent past, where drugs and illicit substances were recovered while two of his aides, Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya, were arrested.

“Based on credible intelligence and surveillance, which confirmed that the senator’s house was being used as a drug joint for drug dealers and users, the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30 p.m. on February 4, 2024, during which the two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.

“In another encounter with the senator, the agency also received intelligence that some of his boys, popularly known as “Omo Senator,” operating from his hometown, Offa, were equally dealing in illicit drugs.

“A raid was subsequently carried out on their joint in Offa, where one of them, Oluwatosin Odepidan, was arrested and illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and cannabis were recovered from him on June 11, 2023.

“The bid to get the agency to drop the case against Odepidan, including a visit to the Kwara State Command headquarters of the agency in Ilorin by the personal assistant to the senator, one Omoluabi, was rebuffed as Odepidan was promptly charged to court and prosecuted.”

According to the NDLEA, these incidents likely fuelled Senator Ashiru’s outburst, which the agency characterised as false and unprecedented.

Babafemi said that despite the senator’s accusations, the NDLEA has continued to earn accolades from both local and international bodies for its work in combating drug trafficking and abuse.

The NDLEA pointed to recent support from international partners, including the United Kingdom and the United States, which had donated infrastructure and resources to aid the agency’s operations.

The NDLEA has also emerged as a regional leader in drug enforcement, Babafemi noted, receiving commendations from various governments.

The agency said, “Incidentally, the next day after Senator Ashiru made the statement, the NDLEA in Lagos commissioned a new Marine Command Headquarters building donated by the Government of the UK. A similar facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was donated last year by the same British government.

“We have had other facilities donated by the United States INL and executed by UNODC in the past 12 months. We have been receiving various support from the governments of France, Germany, and the US, among others.”

The agency stressed that Senator Ashiru’s remarks, made in the Senate chamber, were defamatory and not in the public interest. Despite these accusations, the NDLEA vowed to continue its work to dismantle illicit drug networks across the country, including those allegedly operating from the senator’s residence.

The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to its mandate, noting that since 2021, it had arrested over 52,000 individuals, secured more than 9,000 convictions, and conducted extensive awareness campaigns.

The agency assured the public that it would remain undeterred by Senator Ashiru’s attacks and continue its efforts to protect Nigeria from drug-related crimes.