The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Buruji Kashamu have been involved in a legal
strife concerning Kashamu’s extradition to the
United States for drug trafficking charges.
This formal extradition suit number FHC/ABJ/
CS/479/2015 came after a company of NDLEA
officers surrounded Senator Kashamu during a
six-day siege of his Lekki, Lagos residence.
The officers vacated the when Justice Okon
Abang of the Lagos Federal High Court
instructed NDLEA officers to leave the premises
and suspend all actions concerning illegal
exploits.
“In this case, the NDLEA is very jumpy, nervous
and unsettled because it has exposed its
unprofessionalism.”
When a SaharaReporters correspondent called
to secure information from the Chicago Attorney
General’s offices, where Kashamu’s extradition is
originating, an official with the office told our
correspondent that, “I know who you are
speaking of, but we can't talk of any extradition.”
The official, realizing they may have
unintentionally confirmed that an extradition
process was in order from the US government,
talked back their remarks to the correspondent
saying, “I want to be clear, I did not confirm that
there is an extradition in order.”
SaharaReporters has had anonymous sources,
as well as official NDLEA sources, confirm that
the US government placed an extradition
request to the Nigerian government to extradite
Kashamu to the US. The US Embassy in Abuja
and the Attorney General Office in Chicago, USA
have refused official comment on anything
related to the Kashamu case.
Pending approval from the presiding Judge,
Justice Ibrahim Buba, Kashamu has filed a
committal suit against the Attorney General of
Federation and the Chairman of the NDLEA
denouncing them for contempt of the court.
Previously the NDLEA position was that the now
Senator-elect Kashamu was innocent of these
drug offences, citing that it was a case of
mistaken identity.
These two contrasting stances suggest that the
NDLEA’s involvement with the extradition is
based on larger international and national
interests to extradite Kashamu for future
peaceful relations with the U.S., according to
one analyst.
In response the NDLEA filed a preliminary
objection challenged the jurisdiction of the court
to entertain Kashamu’s contention.
The NDLEA lawyer, A.M. Sunday, said that the
organization has filed a motion which will
reverse the May 26th, 2015 order of the court
which dispersed the 50 operatives that seized
Kashamu’s home.
Kashamu’ lawyer, Mr. R.A. Oluyede, claims the
NDLEA’s claim is not relevant. Oluyede has
encouraged the judge to prevent the NDLEA
from oversteeping legal jurisdictions. He says
the court should repeal the NDLEA”s warrants of
arrest that attempt to extradite Kashamu.
Oluyede also sought a court order that calls on
the Inspector General of Police to issue
additional security for Kashamu so he is
protected from any attempts on his life.
In a bench ruling, Judge Buba declined any of
the new orders presented, instructed all involved
parties to cease from action that undermined
the court, and said the matter was adjourned
until June 19th.

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