DAILY TRUST
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says the recent attack on it by Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (APC Kwara South) was borne out of vendetta rather.
Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, said this at a media briefing on Monday.
He said the senator’s house in Ilorin, Kwara State, was raided and consignment of drugs recovered.
Marwa, represented by Mr Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy of the agency, also said three of Ashiru’s aides were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced, including, one sent to jail in June this year. Babafemi berated the senator for his comment that “the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised…”
Daily Trust reports that at the Senate plenary last week, Ashiru had said NDLEA is the most corrupt and compromised government agency in Nigeria.
He said this while contributing to the debate on a ‘Bill for an Act to establish National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation’, claiming that NDLEA has failed in its mandate woefully, thereby giving credence to creation of another drug related agency.
He had said, “The failure of NDLEA has resulted in the high rate of drug trafficking going on in the country. The NDLEA is corrupt and compromised, hence, I support the creation of National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation.”
The NDLEA, however said the senator’s comments were uncomplimentary, unfounded and defamatory.
“While acknowledging the great work of the Senate towards the upliftment of Nigeria and Nigerians especially their support for the ongoing concerted efforts towards the amendment of the NDLEA Act, the Agency however said it is duty-bound to respond to the unprovoked attack against it by Senator Ashiru during his contribution to the debate on a new bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, October 15, 2024,” he said.
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