The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has prompt the Senate to ask the Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company and alternative related companies to verify the drug-related allegations made towards the Deputy Senate Chief, Yisa Ashiru.
On Monday, the NDLEA accident again at Ashiru, then he accused the company of being “the most corrupt and compromised agency” all the way through terminating month’s debate on a invoice looking for to ascertain the Nationwide Institute for Drug Consciousness and Rehabilitation.
In a remark by means of its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA alleged that the senator’s place of dwelling in Kwara was once raided then wisdom viewable it was once being old as a drug joint.
Babafemi additional alleged that two of the senator’s aides had been arrested all the way through the raid, date one controlled to depart.
“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 dealers and users,” the NDLEA remark famous.
Talking then a movement by means of Ashiru at plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio pushed aside the NDLEA’s claims, describing them as enthusiastic by means of non-public vendetta.
All over Tuesday’s plenary, the Senate additionally constituted a six-member advert hoc committee to probe the allegations.
The committee is chaired by means of Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), with Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT), Afolabi Salisu (APC, Ogun Central), Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), and Lawal Usman (PDP, Kaduna Central) as contributors.
Talking at plenary, Akpabio stated, “I personally feel that whatever the NDLEA is doing must be based on your [Ashiru’s] submission here, which pointed out that the issue of integrity among NDLEA officials should be scrutinised, particularly during the debate on the establishment of the rehabilitation centre for drug users.”
Akpabio additional criticised the timing of the NDLEA’s accusations.
“If the NDLEA felt you were a drug baron, they should have arrested you before you turned 30. They should have brought it up before you were 50, 60, or even 65. Not at the age of 68, just after you made contributions on the Senate floor.”
He persevered, “I needless to say somebody went on tv quoting what you stated at the Senate ground.
“Nigerians appear unaware that no matter is alleged here’s privileged, coated by means of immunity, and now not topic to discuss on tv or radio.
“You have never been invited or charged by the NDLEA, and as far as we know in the Senate, you are a gentleman who doesn’t even take alcohol. This is a serious issue, and we must call the NDLEA to order.”
Akpabio next known as for an advert hoc committee to be poised as much as “invite the NDLEA and others involved to justify these allegations,” ultimatum that if the company failed to take action, “the Senate will take drastic action.”
Akpabio additional added, “Injury to one is injury to all.”
Previous, Ashiru had moved a movement of pressing nationwide worth, mentioning Senate Status Orders 9, 10, 41, and 52.
He decried the NDLEA’s allegations as “mischievous and misleading.”
In a movement below non-public rationalization, Ashiru addressed the company’s response to his feedback all the way through the talk at the invoice looking for to ascertain the Nationwide Institute for Drug Consciousness and Rehabilitation.
Ashiru defined, “I expressed my considerations in this invoice as a result of the overpowering knowledge from my constituency in regards to the uncomfortable side effects of drug intake and trafficking.
“One of my constituents even told me that in the last two years, he has seen 50 people lose their sanity due to drug use.”
He additional elaborated, “There also are seeing examples of drug barons earning money from drug distribution in my constituency and others.
“I contributed at the ground, urging the Senate to research the operations of the NDLEA and cope with corruption amongst its operatives.
“I fully supported the bill for the establishment of another agency to handle drug rehabilitation.”
Ashiru wished to sunlit his identify, stressing, “I’m 68 years impaired and can’t even determine hashish or any drug.
“Beyond drinking water, I don’t take alcohol, drugs, or even carbonated drinks. The NDLEA’s claims are a direct reaction to my comments on the floor of the Senate.”
He additional condemned the NDLEA’s movements, pronouncing, “That is an struggle to curb the Senate’s proper to sovereign debate on nationwide problems.
“The NDLEA’s allegations are malicious, an attempt to undermine my credibility and hinder my full participation in parliamentary debates.”
Ashiru prompt the Senate to do so to offer protection to him and alternative contributors from such unfounded allegations.
All over terminating month’s debate at the identical invoice, Ashiru described the NDLEA as “the most corrupt and compromised agency.”