Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) on May 23rd, 2015 placed Senator-elect Buruji
Kashamu from Ogun State under house arrest. This is
sequel to a formal request for extradition received from the
Embassy of the United States of America pending his
arraignment before the Federal High Court on Monday, May
25th, 2015.
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. 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. 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.
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 NDLEA has assured Kashamu that he will be
afforded all the protections of the law and will be given his
day in court. 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.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
08034088136