NDLEA’s allegations against me baseless – Senator Ashiru
Senator Oyelola Ashiru has categorically denied allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) regarding a raid on his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The NDLEA had claimed, in a press release issued on October 21, 2024, that illegal substances were discovered during the raid, a claim which Senator Ashiru has vehemently dismissed as false and misleading.
According to a statement released by the senator’s office, the allegations surfaced shortly after Senator Ashiru made critical remarks about the NDLEA on the Senate floor, accusing the agency of corruption. The timing of the accusation, the senator’s office suggests, casts doubt on the integrity of the NDLEA’s claims.
“We find it preposterous and a mere fishing expedition that the NDLEA only made these allegations after Senator Ashiru’s observations in the Senate,” the statement read. “The agency claims that its operatives searched the senator’s house and found nothing incriminating. If drugs were found on individuals mentioned by the NDLEA, where are the legal charges against them?”
The statement further clarified that Senator Ashiru has never employed individuals named Ibrahim Mohammed or Mohammad Yahaya, who were reportedly linked to the incident.
Moreover, the senator denied any involvement with a person identified as Tosin Odepidian, whom the NDLEA accused him of trying to shield from drug allegations.
Senator Ashiru’s office criticized the NDLEA’s tactics, accusing the agency of engaging in a “media trial” rather than following due legal processes. The statement called for the agency to address corruption within its ranks instead of seeking “cheap publicity” through baseless accusations.
In closing, Senator Ashiru reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Kwara South and upholding truth and professionalism in Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.
“The NDLEA should focus on rooting out corrupt officers who allow criminals to return to the streets, rather than engaging in unfounded accusations,” the statement concluded.
