The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has defended the Deputy Senate Leader, Yisa Ashiru in light of the drug-related allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and other relevant agencies.
On Monday, the NDLEA hit back at Ashiru, after he accused the agency of being “the most corrupt and compromised agency” during last week’s debate on a bill seeking to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA alleged that the senator’s residence in Kwara was raided after intelligence revealed it was being used as a drug joint.
Babafemi further alleged that two of the senator’s aides were arrested during the raid, while one managed to escape.
“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 statement noted.
Speaking after a motion by Ashiru at plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio dismissed the NDLEA’s claims, describing them as motivated by personal vendetta.
During Tuesday’s plenary, the Senate also constituted a six-member ad hoc committee to probe the allegations.
The committee is chaired by 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 members.
Speaking at plenary, Akpabio said, “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 further 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 continued, “I understand that someone went on television quoting what you said on the Senate floor.
“Nigerians seem unaware that whatever is said here is privileged, covered by immunity, and not subject to debate on television 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 then called for an ad hoc committee to be set up to “invite the NDLEA and others involved to justify these allegations,” warning that if the agency failed to do so, “the Senate will take drastic action.”
