The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has summoned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to appear before it on October 28, following its alleged failure to comply with a Senate resolution directing the payment of ₦200 million compensation to the family of a two-year-old child, Omhonria O. Onosereba Ivan, who was reportedly killed during an NDLEA operation.
The Committee also reaffirmed the Senate’s directive for the immediate sponsorship of medical treatment abroad for the victim’s sibling, who sustained a severe eye injury during the same operation.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South), expressed outrage at the NDLEA’s silence and non-compliance, described it as “a disturbing disregard for accountability and the sanctity of human life.”
“We sincerely feel your pain and are committed to ensuring justice. It is unfortunate that despite the Senate’s clear resolution, the NDLEA has neither acknowledged your correspondence nor taken concrete steps to save the surviving child,” Maidoki stated during an emotional meeting with the bereaved family on Thursday.
Medical experts have reportedly confirmed that the child’s required surgery cannot be performed in Nigeria, heightening the urgency for immediate foreign medical attention.
The family’s lawyer decried the NDLEA’s inaction, noted that no medical arrangements had been made despite the child’s deteriorating condition.
Senator Maidoki warned that the Senate would not hesitate to invoke legal sanctions if the NDLEA failed to comply with its summons or previous resolutions.
“The NDLEA is a creation of law, and so is the Senate. If the agency continue to ignore its responsibilities, the law will take its course. Nobody is above the law,” he cautioned.
The Committee resolved to brief Senate President Godswill Akpabio to facilitate presidential intervention, described the incident as “a stain on the nation’s conscience.”
Lawmakers also condemned the excessive use of force by security agencies and called for a comprehensive review of NDLEA’s operational procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Expressing gratitude to the Senate, the family appealed for urgent enforcement of the resolutions.
“The NDLEA has shown unwillingness to comply. It is time for the Senate to act decisively so that justice is not delayed any further,” a family representative said.
The Senate’s scheduled session with the NDLEA on October 28 is expected to determine the agency’s level of compliance and the next course of action.
