The Nigerian Senate has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate drug distribution allegations by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against Senator Oyelola Ashiru.(APC-Kwara).
This followed adoption of a point of order brought by Ashiru under order 42 of Senate standing rules, which entailed personal explanation .
NDLEA had on Monday said that it had raided the Ilorin home of Ashiru where it recovered a consignment of drugs.
The Chairman of the agency, General Mohammed Buba Marwa (I rtd), who spoke at a media briefing through the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy in Abuja, Mr. Femi Babafemi said the recent attack on the agency by Ashiru was borne out of vendetta, rather than on any altruistic motive or national interest.
General Marwa also said three of Ashiru’s aides had been arrested and prosecuted, and that one of them was sent to jail in June this year.
The Senate at it’s resumes plenary on Tuesday was worried by the development which forced the house into an executive session which lasted for almost two hours.
At the end of the session, the Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, expressed the concerns and reservations of the senators on the issues and thereby invited Senator Ashiru to present the matter to the House.
Senator Ashiru while presenting his side of the story accused the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of playing to the gallery saying the allegations against him was malicious and has far reaching implications on his person.
“I want to ascertain that in my life, I am 68 years now. I can not even identify canabites or any drug, beyond taking water, I don’t take alcohol, I don’t even take carbonated drinks, beyond taking water and other foods” he said.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio before announcing composition of the committee said Ashiru had actually approached him about breached of his fundamental rights and privileges.
He however, said whatever the NDLEA did was based on the submission of Senator Ashiru, when the lawmaker said the integrity of NDLEA officials should be looked into.
“If they felt you were a drug baron ,they would have arrested you when you were 30, 50, 60, 65 years, not at the age of 68, when you made contributions on the floor of the senate on a bill to establish a drug rehabilitation centre.
“We in the senate see you as a gentle man to the call , and we must take this issue seriously and call this agency to order because, injury to one is an injury to all.
“So it is my personal view that the Senate invite the NDLEA to come and justify the allegations, falling to do so the senate will take very drastic action,” Akpabio said.
The Ad-hoc Committee, headed by Senator Eyinaya Abaribe has been given one week to submit it’s report.
Confidence Okwuchi
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