The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that the house of a serving Senator from Kwara South, and the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru was used in recent times as a drug joint by dealers and users.

The Agency further revealed that three of Ashiru’s aides had been arrested, prosecuted and sentenced, including, one sent to jail in June this year.

Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, who revealed this at a media briefing on Monday said the recent attack on the agency on the floor of the Senate was borne out of vendetta.

Represented by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy of the agency, Marwa said the senator’s house in Ilorin, Kwara State, was raided and consignment of drugs recovered.

He berated the senator for his comment that “the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised…”

At the Senate plenary last week, Ashiru had said NDLEA is the most corrupt and compromised government agency in Nigeria.

He said this while contributing to the debate on a ‘Bill for an Act to establish National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation’, claiming that NDLEA has failed in its mandate woefully, thereby giving credence to creation of another drug related agency.

He had said, “The failure of NDLEA has resulted in the high rate of drug trafficking going on in the country. The NDLEA is corrupt and compromised, hence, I support the creation of National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.”

The NDLEA, however said the senator’s comments were uncomplimentary, unfounded and defamatory.

“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,” he said.

Marwa said that the NDLEA waited for a whole week hoping the lawmaker will clarify his position on such a weighty allegation against it but failing to do that.

He added that the Agency is left with no option than to come out and set the record straight for the benefit of other distinguished members of the Senate, its local and international partners as well as the general public.

“The personal house of the senator (Ashiru) in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in 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 1:30pm 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 home town, 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 recovered from him on June 11, 2023.

“The bid to get the agency 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.

“Though the culprit jumped court bail in 2023, he was rearrested in 2024 after the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He was eventually convicted and sentenced in June 2024.

“So, going by this backstory, it is deductible that these encounters that the agency has had with the senator, must have been responsible for his outburst, and unfortunately, false allegation, the type that nobody within and outside of government has ever levelled against NDLEA before,” he said.

The agency said despite the impression Senator Ashiru was trying to create about its image, the NDLEA has continued to receive accolades from local and international bodies for its successes in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

He said, “Incidentally, the next day after Senator Ashiru made the statement, 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 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.

“Suffice it to say that in the past three years, NDLEA has emerged as a regional leader among national drug law enforcement agencies.

“So, come to think about it, an agency so badmouthed by Senator Ashiru couldn’t have been attracting such international goodwill and commendation for being the ‘most corrupt government agency’ in Nigeria.”

The agency further revealed that it has made over 52, 000 arrests while more than 9,000 convictions including three life sentence, were secured, in the last three years.

“In the past three years, we have made over 52, 000 arrests and got more than 9, 000 convictions, including three life sentences this year.

“And, as part of our mandate, we have engaged in over 7,000 awareness and sensitisation activities in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities; treatment and rehabilitation of more than 33,000 drug users including the last two persons arrested in the senator’s house.