By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate has constituted a six-member ad hoc committee to investigate allegations levelled against the Senate’s Deputy Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, who represents Kwara South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
The committee was also mandated to summon the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s management to explain the allegations.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who constituted the panel during plenary on Tuesday, said the committee would be chaired by the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Eyinanaya Abaribe.
The committee’s other members are Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), Lawal Usman (PDP, Kaduna Central), Shuaib Salisu (APC, Ogun Central), and Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT).
The NDLEA had on Monday alleged that Senator Ashiru’s house in Ilorin, Kwara State, was raided and that illicit drugs were found there.
The wild allegations levelled against Ashiru resulted from his contributions on the floor during a debate on the Bill to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, during which the 68-year-old senator described the NDLEA as “the most corrupt and compromised agency.”
However, during plenary yesterday, Ashiru came under order 42 and raised the issue of the allegations by the NDLEA in its press statement, which described it as an act of witch-hunting.
He noted that the agency singled him out for personal attacks and impugned his privilege as a senator to freely contribute to debates on the Senate floor.
He further stated that the agency has resorted to subterfuge and gas-lighting, viewing it as an attempt to cow the Senate of its rights to freely debate issues of National interest and hear opinions on the floor.
He said, “In the last two years, we have encountered up to 50 people who had nursed their sanity based on the consumption of drugs.
“Equally, there are feasible examples of billionaires who are making money through the distribution of drugs in my constituency and other constituencies, too. Equally, we observe that there are increases in drug remittances.
“Because of this and many other reasons, I strongly contributed on the floor of the Senate that the Senate should look into the operation of NDLEA and advise that corruption among the operating will be looked into.
“To the extent that after debates, I fully supported the bill on establishing another agency that will take care of rehabilitation.
“I want to assert that, in my life, I’m 68 years now; I assert that I do not identify with porn, cannabis, or any drug. Beyond taking water, I don’t take alcohol, I don’t take any drugs, I don’t even take carbonated drinks.
“Beyond taking water and other foods, I don’t get myself involved in these things. My reaction and my findings are simple.
“The basis of this debate publication has been traced to my contribution on the floor of the Senate on the issue raised on October 15, 2024, to which I offered my views on the subject as best known to me.
“Then, in the end, we ended up addressing the issues raised by the Senate. The agency resorted to subterfuge and gas lighting.
“This is an attempt to curb the Senate’s rights to free debate on issues of national interest and air opinions on the floor of the Senate.
“The unambiguous reserve of the Senate is that the menace of drugs should be confronted no matter the personality involved.
“The NDLEA has made unfounded allegations against me. These allegations are malicious and attempt to undermine my credibility as a Senator and impugn my ability to participate in parliamentary debate.
“I think that for the protection of myself as a member of this hallowed chamber, for the protection of the Senate. We must do something about this. I am so sorry.”
The President of the Senate wondered why the NDLEA should pick a senator who freely expressed his opinion on the Senate floor.
He also queried the anti-drug agency for waiting until the man made comments about them before coming up with all the allegations against him.
He said, “If any of your aides were found with drugs, they should have arrested you before you got to 30 years. They should have brought it up before you were 60. They would have brought it up before you were 65.
“You are at the age of 68, and just after your contribution to the Senate floor, they are coming up with all these allegations.
“I understand the (NDLEA) person that went on television was alluding to the fact that you made contributions on the floor and tried to put more users on the floor. I think Nigerians are unaware of the Constitution and the laws of the land.
“Anything you say here is privileged. It is covered with immunity. It is not subject to debate on the radio or television. So, we feel that I don’t want to jump to a conclusion, but NDLEA has never invited you. NDLEA has never charged you, and NDLEA has never said anything about you.
“We in the Senate see you as a gentleman to the core. You are not even somebody that takes that to heart. I have heard of this since I was in college. This is very serious because an injury to one is an injury to all. I have heard of this since I was in college.
“I call upon the Ad-hoc Committee to look at this issue holistically and come up with recommendations before the Senate for appropriate action.
“The Ad-hoc Committee should look into the allegations made by NDLEA on Channels Television and published in Daily Trust newspaper, which I have a copy of here, how we recovered a consignment of drugs from Senator Ashiru’s house.
“This was said to have happened in February last year and is only coming up now because we made the debate on the floor of the Senate.”
