Nigeria’s senate has established a special committee to investigate allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, the deputy majority leader.
This decision comes after Ashiru filed a motion on an order of privilege, following the NDLEA’s claim that they discovered illicit substances at his residence and arrested two of his aides in 2023, an allegation Ashiru vehemently denies.
NDLEA’s allegation came after the senator representing Kwara south said the agency is “the most corrupt and compromised government agency” in the country.
The senator said this while contributing to a debate on a bill seeking to establish an institute for drug awareness and rehabilitation last week.
While speaking on the floor of the senate, Ashiru said the NDLEA is attempting to undermine his privileges as a senator to speak on issues by making “unfounded allegations”.
“I want to assert that I don’t know what cannabis is, I don’t take alcohol,” he said.
“For my protection and that of other senators, we must do something about this.”
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said there is a need for an ad hoc committee to look into the matter “holistically”.
“Dear colleagues, we must take this issue seriously. Injury to one is injury to all. We should set up an ad hoc committee to look at the issue holistically,” Akpabio said.
Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, was appointed chair of the ad hoc committee.
The committee is expected to submit its report within a week.
