Senate probes NDLEA’s drug allegations against Deputy Leader, Ashiru

Senate on Tuesday announced a six-man ad-hoc committee to investigate the recent allegations by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA that the house of its Deputy Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC Kwara South) in Ilorin is being used as a drugs warehouse.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio made the announcement after a motion on the allegations by Senator Ashiru, who maintained that he doesn’t consume hard drugs and cannot differentiate cannabis from other illicit hard substances.

The ad-hoc committee, which would be chaired by former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), has Senators Efe Dafinone (APC Delta Central), Ireti Kingibe (LP FCT), Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (APC Ogun Central), Lawal Usman (PDP Kaduna Central) and Shehu Kaka (APC Borno Central) as members, was given one week to submit its report.

The NDLEA had two days ago alleged that Senator Ashiru’s house in Ilorin, Kwara State, was raided, and illicit drugs were found.

The accusation followed contributions by Senator Ashiru on the floor of the Senate on October 15 during a debate on the bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, where the Deputy Leader described the NDLEA as “the most corrupt and compromised agency.”

Rising under Order 42 of the Senate Rules during plenary, Senator Ashiru who on Monday denied the allegation in a press statement, describing it as an act of witch-hunting, noting that the agency singled him out for personal attacks and impugned his privilege as a senator to freely contribute to debates on the floor of the Senate.

He further stated that the agency has resorted to subterfuge and gas-lighting, viewing it as an attempt to cow the Senate of its rights to freely debate issues of national interest and hear opinions on the floor.

“So, I want to assert that in my life, I am 68 years now, I assert that I cannot even identify what is called cannabis or any drug. Beyond taking water, I don’t take alcohol, I don’t take any drugs. I don’t even take carbonated drinks.

“Beyond taking water and alcohol, I don’t get myself involved in this thing. Your Excellency, my reaction to my finding is simple. The basis of this debate and publication is based on my contribution on the floor of the Senate on the issue raised in October 15, 2014, to which I offer my views on the subject as best known to me.

“Rather than being able to address the issues raised by the Senate, the NDLEA resorted to some taboos and gaslighting. This is an attempt to curb the Senate of its right to free debate on issues of national interest and their opinions on the floor of the Senate. The ambiguous result of the Senate is that the menace of drugs should be confronted no matter the personality involved.

“The NDLEA has made unfounded allegations against me. These allegations are malicious, an attempt to undermine my credibility as a senator and impede my ability to participate in parliamentary debates.

“Your Excellency, I am of the opinion that, for the protection of myself as a member of this Assembly, for the protection of the Senate, we must do something about this,” Senator Ashiru stressed.

In his remarks, the Senate President noted that the NDLEA’s reaction must have been based on the Deputy Leader’s submission on the recent debate on drug awareness centre, which bothers on integrity of the agency’s officials.

“The NDLEA should be looking at the bill for the establishment of the Rehabilitation Act. So, if the NDLEA itself can do a job better, they should have a lesson.

“I understand the person that went on television was even alluding to the fact that you made contributions on the floor (of the Senate) and tried to put what you said on the floor.

“I think Nigerians are not aware of the constitution and the laws of the land. Anything you say here (on the floor) is a privileged. It is covered with immunity. It is not subject to debate on the radio or television.

“So, I don’t want to jump into conclusions, but you (Senator Ashiru) have never been invited by the NDLEA. You have never been charged by the NDLEA. The NDLEA never said anything about you as a person. And we in this Senate, we see you as a gentleman on the floor. You are not even somebody that takes alcohol,” Akpabio said.

He, however, urged his colleagues to take the issue very seriously “because injury to one is injury to all” and thereafter announced members of the ad-hoc committee and asked them to invite the NDLEA officials and all those involved, to come and justify their allegations.