…Sets up panel committee after lawmaker raises Order 42 of Senate rules
Babatunde Opoola, Abuja
The Nigeria Senate has set up an investigative panel to look into the allegations made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the Deputy Senate Leader, Oyelola Yisa Ashiru and have subsequently summoned the NDLEA which has accused Ashiru of stocking and distributing hard drugs, to appear before the panel and prove its case.
The setting up of the investigative committee came after Ashiru raised Order 42 of Senate Rules, which bothers on personal explanation, noting that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, accused him of involvement in drug trafficking, which led to the arrest of some of his aides.
Ashiru said the allegation against him by NDLEA was baseless and unfounded, stressing that the agency was angry because he contributed to a proposed bill on the establishment of a drug-related agency on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024
He urged the Senate to take action on the matter, saying that the allegation was an infringement on his person and his privilege as a sitting senator.
“Mr Senate President, I come under Order 42 – personal explanation. My personal explanation is NDLEA’s malicious reaction to my debate on a bill seeking to establish an institute on drug awareness and rehabilitation.
“I expressed my concern on this bill for so many reasons. For the reason that there is a lot of information from my constituency on the negative effect of drug consumption and trafficking to the extent that one of my constituents has ascertained that in the last two years, he can count up to 50 people who have lost their sanity due to consumption of drugs.
“Equally, they are visible examples of drug barons who are making money through distribution of drugs in my constituency and other constituencies too.
“We have observed that there is an increase in drug related crime. Because of these 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 the issue of corruption among operatives should be looked into to the extent that after debate, I supported the establishment of another agency that will take care of rehabilitation.
“Mr President, I come under Order 42 to clear insinuation published especially by Daily Trust that Senator Ashiru is involved in distribution of drugs. In my life, I am 68 years now, I assert that I cannot even identify cannabis or any drug. Beyond taking water, I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink caffeine, I don’t even take carbonated drinks.”
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.