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NDLEA Fires Back at Senator Ashiru’s Corruption Claims Amid Tense Drug Raids

Anti-drug agency accuses Kwara Senator of vendetta following controversial remarks

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has rebuffed accusations of corruption leveled by Senator Yisa Ashiru, representing Kwara South, in a heated back-and-forth that has drawn public attention. Senator Ashiru, during a Senate debate on October 15, accused the NDLEA of being Nigeria’s “most corrupt and compromised” government institution, claiming the agency had failed in its mission to combat drug-related crimes.

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Ashiru made these remarks while contributing to a bill seeking to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation. His comments ignited a swift response from the NDLEA, which accused the senator of making the allegations out of “vendetta” following a series of high-profile drug raids linked to his residence and aides.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s spokesperson, dismissed Ashiru’s claims as baseless, suggesting they were motivated by personal grievances. Babafemi revealed that the agency had previously raided Ashiru’s home in Ilorin, Kwara State, where illegal drugs were allegedly found, leading to the arrest of two of the senator’s aides.

“For a senator to make such an unwarranted, sweeping statement against the agency is deeply concerning,” Babafemi said. “Upon investigation, we discovered the senator’s home had been raided based on credible intelligence that it was being used as a drug den.”

According to Babafemi, the raid resulted in the arrest of Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya, two of Ashiru’s aides, while another managed to escape. The spokesperson also claimed that intelligence later implicated a group of young men associated with Ashiru, known locally as “Omo Senator,” in further drug dealings in the senator’s hometown, Offa. Another man, Oluwatosin Odepidan, was arrested during a separate raid, with methamphetamine and cannabis reportedly seized at the scene.

Babafemi asserted that efforts to pressure the NDLEA into dropping the case against Odepidan were rebuffed. The accused was charged, though he initially fled after being granted bail. He was eventually re-arrested in 2024 and sentenced in June of that year.

Senator Ashiru has since denied the NDLEA’s version of events, issuing a statement through his Special Assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju. The senator challenged the NDLEA to prosecute anyone they claim to have arrested, accusing the agency of fabricating evidence to silence his criticism.

“The NDLEA claims to have discovered drugs in the senator’s residence, yet there’s no record of anyone being charged in court,” the statement read, while refuting suggestions that Ashiru had sent aides to influence the handling of the case.

Despite the ongoing spat, Babafemi maintained the agency’s willingness to contribute to the proposed creation of a new drug enforcement body. “It’s within the Senate’s power to establish a new agency,” he said. “If we’re invited to weigh in, we’ll gladly provide our perspective.”

As the public debate continues, questions about both the senator’s accusations and the agency’s operations linger, further fuelling a growing national conversation about corruption and accountability within Nigeria’s drug enforcement system.

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