The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday disclosed it has given embattled senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, who is wanted in the United States of America on charges bordering on drug trafficking, notice of extradition. The Agency further revealed that the House of Representatives has commended it for the bold step taken in the extradition case involving Kashamu. But Kashamu, yesterday said that the agency was just a busy-body, who has no role to play in the whole extradition process.
According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, a notice of application for extradition of Kashamu to the United States had also been served on the senator-elect. Ofoyeju said: “In an application made to the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/479/2015, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is seeking the extradition of Buruji Kashamu to answer alleged drug trafficking charges. This is in line with the Extradition Act CAP, E25 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as modified by Extradition Act Modification Order, 2014).
The notice of the suit was officially served on Kashamu by the NDLEA on 1st of June 2015.” Ofoyeju noted that the letter of commendation, signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Honourable Jagaba Adams Jagaba stated that the Agency’s action would go a long way in building the confidence of the international community in Nigeria. But in a statement signed by his counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, Kashamu dismissed the NDLEA’s claim.
The statement said, “It is the court that will decide whether a warrant of arrest is necessary. 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 sough is the person that actually participated in the offence alleged.
In this case, the NDLEA is very jumpy, nervous and unsettled because it has exposed its unprofessionalism when before any extradition proceedings had been commenced at all, it invaded the home of Prince Kashamu, broke down his gates, doors and windows to gain access, harassed his infant children and pregnant wife and humiliated him in the presence of his family. Clearly, the plan was not extradition but abduction and that plan failed only because it quickly came to the attention of the public.”
