By Kayode Araba
Thus, tension is mounting in the National Assembly as the Senate has raised alarm over the continued delay in implementing its resolution on compensation and medical support for victims of a tragic shooting incident involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Senator Ede Omueya Dafinone (APC, Delta Central), on Tuesday disclosed to journalists in an interview shortly after the Committee sitting, that nearly two years after the incident, critical steps ordered by the Senate to compensate the bereaved family and treat an injured child have yet to be fully implemented.
He said the senate had, in July 2025, passed a resolution directing the Federal Government to pay N200 million as compensation to the family of a child who died in the accidental shooting.
However, the upper chamber also mandated the NDLEA to provide funds for the treatment of another child whose eyes were severely damaged during the same incident but according to Senator Dafinone, progress on both directives has been painfully slow.
Therefore, the senator said they have not received accurate or satisfactory updates on the health condition of the injured child nearly two years after the incident
Dafinone said our committee was specifically mandated to ensure that the Senate’s resolutions are carried out, including the payment of N200 million compensation and the provision of funds for the treatment of the child whose eyes were damaged.
Also that the Committee revealed that the NDLEA had been advised to approach the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to access funds from government accounts holding confiscated assets, which could legally be used for such compensatory payments. However Senator Dafinone said attempts to secure support from the office have so far yielded no results.
Moreso, unfortunately, we have not received any positive response from the Attorney General’s office,” he said.
“They were invited to our meeting but did not attend, and attempts by the NDLEA to reach them directly have also not produced any meaningful outcome.”
Senator Dafinone described the deadlock as dangerous and potentially devastating for the child’s future.
He urged the family to accept the interim funds offered by the agency and commence treatment locally while further funding arrangements are pursued.
The Committee Chairman confirmed that the matter has been escalated to the leadership of the Senate, including the Senate President, who has been fully briefed on the situation.
He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would not abandon the case.
