Kashamu’s Arrest: Stop Blame Game, Get Ready For Extradition Proceedings, NDLEA Tells Kashamu; We’Ve Received US Formal Extradition Request

Kashamu Buruji; Photo: The News Nigeria

The National Drug Law enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Sunday told Buruji Kashamu to be set for extradition proceedings and not blame anyone for his predicaments.

Mr. Kashamu, a senator-elect, has been under house arrest by the NDLEA since Saturday morning, with the agency set to drag him to court on Monday to face extradition to the U.S. where he is wanted for drug-related offences.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, politician blamed his current predicament on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a PDP leader, Bode George, whose wife heads the NDLEA.

However, in a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Ofoyeju Mitchell, said, “We expect Kashamu as a distinguished senator-elect to demonstrate ample confidence in the Nigerian judicial system and stop the blame game.”

PREMIUM TIMES report continues:

“The fact is that a formal request for his extradition had been received from the Embassy of the United States of America. According to official report, Kashamu has been on the wanted list of both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),” the drug agency stated.

“Kashamu was indicted in the Northern District of Illinois, United States on charges brought against him by ICE. According to the United States court documents, Kashamu in his days as the leader of a prolific heroin trafficking ring based in Chicago, Illinois was known as “God,” “Daddy,” and “Kasmal”. He 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 added that Mr. Kashamu, “who holds dual Nigerian/Beninese citizenship, has taken 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.”

Mr. Kashamu, a close ally of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan has been making efforts to stop his extradition in the U.S. including filing cases at different Nigerian courts to stop the process. He was one of the major reasons given by Mr. Obasanjo for refusing to support the re-election of Mr. Jonathan and choosing to dump the PDP.

We​’​Ve Received US Formal Extradition ​Request – NDLEA

A formal request for extradition from the Embassy of the United States of America triggered the siege laid by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Buruji Kashamu’s house in Lagos, Saturday​, the anti-drug agency has said.​

According to the NDLEA, Mr. Kashamu’s house arrest was to pave the way for his arraignment before the Federal High Court on Monday.

“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,” the NDLEA said in a statement Saturday.

“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.”

A special team of NDLEA narcotic operatives stormed Mr. Kashamu’s home at about 5 a.m. on Saturday to keep an eye on the Ogun East District Senator-elect.

Mr. Kashamu had blamed some members of his political party, including Bode George, a party chieftain, and his wife, as being behind the raid by NDLEA.

A U.S federal grand jury, in 1998, charged Mr. Kashamu and 14 others for their alleged involvement in an international conspiracy to smuggle heroin into the U.S.

While Mr. Kashamu, a prominent member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, had continued to deny the charges, he had refused to heed the advice of a U.S Court of Appeal to come and clear the allegations against him.

Last month, Mr. Kashamu accused former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, of plotting with the Nigerian government and U.S agents to extradite him to America to face the criminal charges against him.

Several weeks later, the Senator-elect filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, dragging 12 individuals and government agencies of conspiring with his political opponents to abduct and forcefully transport him to the U.S.

The respondents in the suit include the Inspector General of Police; the Chairman of the NDLEA; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; the Director General, Department of State Services; the Interpol National Central Bureau; and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly; the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission; Nigeria Customs Services, Nigeria Immigration Service; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

In their statement on Saturday, the NDLEA accused Mr. Kashamu, who holds dual Nigerian/Beninese citizenship, of taking multiple preemptive actions to thwart U.S. extradition efforts.

“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,” the NDLEA said.

“Kashamu has filed injunctions in federal court both in the Northern District of Illinois, United States and in Nigeria to prevent his arrest and prosecution.”

The NDLEA assured Mr. Kashamu that he would be afforded all the protection of the law and will be given his day in court.

“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,” the agency stated.
“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.