Buruji Kashamu Gets Extradition Notice

Still on the Kashamu saga, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday has disclosed that it has formally served an extradition notice on the Senator-elect for Ogun East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu.

According to the NDLEA, it effected the service on Kashamu on Monday in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015 with a copy made available to the Chief Judge, Federal High Court.

The agency and PDP chieftain have been engaged in a serious legal battle over moves by the federal government to facilitate his extradition to the United State to face drug trafficking charges.

Tens of NDLEA officials had laid a six-day siege to the Lagos residence of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP chieftain in Lekki, Lagos, before they vacated on May 28, two days after a Federal High Court in the state mandated them to do same.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos had on May 27 restrained security agencies in Nigeria from “unlawful” arrest and forceful extradition of Kashamu.

But Kashamu in a swift reaction through his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, said he has not been served, “rather, a copy of the process was dropped in our office in Lagos yesterday. So, we shall deal with it in accordance with the law”.

“We wish to state that the NDLEA has no role to play in extradition proceedings until a warrant of arrest has been issued by the court. It is the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice that initiates extradition proceedings after receiving a request by an order directed to the court and asking the court to take over the matter. It is the court that will consider all the evidence provided by the United States to see whether it satisfies the onus of proof and that it establishes that the person sought is the person that actually participated in the offence alleged,” he stated.

However, the House of Representatives has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the bold step taken in the extradition case involving senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu who is wanted in the United States of America on charges bordering on drug trafficking.

The letter of commendation, which was signed, by the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes Honourable Jagaba Adams Jagaba states that the Agency’s action will go a long way in building the confidence of the international community in our country.

The letter enjoined the Agency not to succumb to blackmail saying, “Let me at this juncture, therefore, encourage you not to falter in the face of blackmail. Your distractors will engage in all forms of antics including blackmail to distract you but you must never be deterred. Instead, with every form of distraction, you should be spurred to maintain the dignity of the Agency and do the needful in the interest of Nigerians and humanity”