The Senate on Tuesday constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate drug distribution allegations by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against Sen. Oyelola Ashiru (APC-Kwara).
This followed the adoption of a point of order brought by Ashiru under Order 42 of Senate Standing Rules which entailed personal explanations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee has Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe as Chairman. Other members of the committee are: Senators Ede Dafinone, Afolabi Shaibu, Shehu Kaka and Lawal Usman.
The committee, which has one week to present its report, is to invite NDLEA to speak to the allegation and justify its claims against Ashiru.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had, before announcing the composition of the committee, said Ashiru had actually approached him about the breach of his fundamental rights and privileges.
Akpabio, however, said whatever the NDLEA did was based on Ashiru’s submission, when he said that the integrity of NDLEA officials should be looked into.
He said it was surprising that NDLEA had never invited, arrested or charged Ashiru to court on any drug-related issue before now.
“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 gentleman to the core and we must take this issue seriously and call this agency to order because an injury to one is an injury to all.
“So it is my personal view that the senate invites NDLEA to come and justify the allegations, falling to do so, the senate will take very drastic action,” he said.
Earlier in his explanation, Ashiru said he had expressed his concern and contributions on the bill based on information from his constituency on the negative effects of drug consumption and trafficking.
He said one of his constituents had asserted that in the last two years, more than 50 persons had lost their sanity because of drugs.
The senator said there were visible drug barons who were making money from distribution of drugs.
He said that the increase in drug-related crime had resulted in his contribution, advising that the senate looked into the operation of NDLEA officials, especially on the allegations of corruption among them.
Ashiru said that he had also supported the establishment of an institute for awareness and rehabilitation of persons affected by drugs.
He said that he was presenting his personal observations in order to explain and clear himself of the insinuations that he was involved in drug distribution.
“I want to ascertain that in my life, I am 68 years old now, I cannot even identify cannabis 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.
Ashiru said the basis for the debased publication against him could only be traced to his contributions at the plenary on a bill to establish a drug rehabilitation centre.
He said rather than NDLEA addressing the issues raised by the senate, it resorted to deceit.
The lawmaker further stated that the report was an attempt to infringe on the senate’s right to free debate on issues of national interest.
He said the resolve of the senate on the bill was that the menace of drug abuse should be frontally confronted, no matter the personality involved.
Ashiru described NDLEA’s allegations against him as unfounded and malicious.
He said it was an attempt to undermine his credibility as a senator and impede his ability to fully participate in parliamentary debates.
“For the protection of the Senate, we must do something about it,” he said. (NAN)
