Senator Oyelola Ashiru has dismissed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's (NDLEA) recent allegations against him as unfounded and politically motivated.
The NDLEA, in a press release dated October 21, 2024, claimed it raided Senator Ashiru's residence in Ilorin, Kwara State, and discovered illicit drugs.
In a swift rebuttal, Senator Ashiru’s office described the accusations as a direct response to the senator’s recent criticism of the NDLEA on the Senate floor, where he called out corruption within the agency.
The statement, signed by his legislative aide, Olaitan Adeyanju, expressed surprise that the NDLEA only made the allegations public after the senator’s remarks in the Senate, suggesting the agency was "fishing for justification."
The statement clarified that none of the individuals named in the NDLEA’s report, including Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammad Yahaya, were ever employed by the senator, either as aides or in any other capacity.
It further noted that while the agency claimed to have searched the senator's house and found no incriminating evidence, no court proceedings or charges have been filed against any suspects mentioned in the NDLEA's statement.
Senator Ashiru’s office also refuted claims that he had sent any aide to influence the NDLEA's handling of a separate case involving one Tosin Odepidian, stating that the names mentioned by the agency were entirely unfamiliar to the senator.
The senator's office criticized the NDLEA for engaging in a "media trial" instead of taking legitimate suspects to court. The statement called on the agency to clean up its internal ranks, accusing some law enforcement officers of corruption, and allowing criminals and drug offenders to evade justice after bribing officials.
"Senator Ashiru remains focused on serving his constituency in Kwara South and advocating for transparency and professionalism within law enforcement agencies," the statement concluded.