BEVERLY HILLS, May 24, (THEWILL) – A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, who was placed under house arrest on Saturday by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following an extradition request by the United States government, will be taken to court on Monday, the anti-narcotics agency said Sunday.
The NDLEA said the early morning Saturday siege at his Lekki, Lagos residence was to confine him to his home following the extradition request from the United States Embassy in Nigeria.
“Kashamu has been a target of both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for over 20 years and was indicted in the Northern District of Illinois, United States, on charges brought against him by ICE..
“Kashamu, who U.S. court documents allege was known in his days as the leader of a prolific heroin trafficking ring based in Chicago, Illinois as ‘God,’ ‘Daddy,’ and ‘Kasmal,’ is wanted to stand trial on charges of conspiracy and importation of controlled substances, namely heroin, into the United States dating back to 1994,” the NDLEA statement said, accusing him of using “multiple preemptive actions to thwart U.S. extradition efforts such as making fanciful claims that his is a case of mistaken identity, and that his deceased brother is responsible for the crimes he is being sought after in the United States. He has filed injunctions at the federal court both in the Northern District of Illinois, United States and in Nigeria to prevent his arrest and prosecution.”
The politician cum-fugitive had preempted his arrest some weeks ago when he filed a lawsuit seeking to block his arrest and extradition, alleging that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his estranged political ally, had perfected plans using his influence over some influential Americans to forcefully transport him to the United States against his will to face prosecution. He also accused Chief Bode George, a PDP chieftain and his wife, who also heads the anti-narcotics agency, of complicity in the plot.
But the NDLEA in its statement signed by spokesperson, Ofoyeju Mitchell, asked the embattled senator-elect representing Ogun-East, to stop the blame game and have confidence in the Nigerian judicial system.
“At the time of his arrest, NDLEA officers allowed Kashamu’s legal attorneys – Daniel Onamusi and Barrister Oloyede – and close family members including his wife and adult daughters to speak with him and attest to his well-being.
“Assertions that he will be bundled up under cover of darkness and whisked out of the country are untrue and should not be given any credence.
“We expect Kashamu as a senator-elect to demonstrate confidence in the Nigerian judicial system and not insinuate otherwise,” the NDLEA said.
About the Author
