The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
has advised the Senator-elect for Ogun-East
senatorial district, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, to
concentrate his effort on defending himself
before the Federal High Court where he is
expected to appear on Monday (today).
The agency reiterated that the decision to
drag him before the court followed a formal
request for his extradition by the United
States.
In a statement by its Head of Public Affairs,
Mr. Ofoyeju Mitchell, on Sunday, the NDLEA
urged Kashamu to save his energy for the
hearing of the extradition application.
Kashamu is the Chairman, Organisastion and
Mobilisation Committee of the PDP in the
South-West and he was a staunch supporter
of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election
bid.
He fell out with former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and teamed up with President
Goodluck Jonathan during the battle for the
control of the party in Ogun State.
The agency said it was wrong of Kashamu to
finger Obasanjo and a leader of the PDP in
Lagos State, Chief Bode George, as being
behind his present travails.
According to the NDLEA, Kashamu had been
on the wanted list of both the US Drug
Enforcement Administration, and the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the
Department of Homeland Security.
The statement read in part, “According to an
official report, Kashamu has been on the
wanted list of both the US Drug Enforcement
Administration, and the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement of the Department of
Homeland Security.
“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 for charges of conspiracy and
importation of controlled substances, namely
heroin, into the United States dating back to
1994.
“Kashamu, who holds dual Nigerian/
Beninoise citizenship, has taken multiple pre-
emptive actions to thwart US extradition
efforts such as claiming that he was being
mistaken for his deceased brother whom he
claimed committed the alleged offences in the
US.”
The statement also said that Kashamu had
filed injunctions at courts in the Northern
District of Illinois, United States, and in
Nigeria to prevent his arrest and prosecution.
The NDLEA said, “These are issues that
Kashamu should prepare to address rather
than point accusing fingers at eminent elder
statesmen who have no connection with the
ongoing investigative process. The senator
who was placed on house arrest at the
weekend is expected to appear in court in less
than 24 hours.
“We expect Kashamu, as a distinguished
senator-elect, to demonstrate ample
confidence in the Nigerian judicial system
and stop the blame game.”
Meanwhile, armed NDLEA operatives have
gained access into the residence of the
embattled politician, where he has been
confined to his bedroom.
His lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, who spoke with
our correspondent near the residence, on
Sunday, said Kashamu had not been allowed
to leave his bedroom since Saturday.
Oluyede said, “He has been locked inside the
room while about 15 armed operatives are in
the house. As I speak to you, I have not even
seen him. We have only been talking through
the door.
This is disheartening because his little
children and his pregnant wife are all in the
house with him.”
When asked to comment on the allegation
that Kashamu threatened suicide, the lawyer
said, “He is obviously traumatised but I
wouldn’t say he is suicidal.”
Oluyede alleged that the NDLEA had no plan
of taking Kashamu to court on Monday
(today) but only later decided to do so
because the media got involved.
“Their plan was to get him as early as 4am
and put him on the plane to the United
States. It was never their plan to take him to
court. It was when the media reported the
incident that they decided to take him to
court,” he said.
About 15 patrol vehicles were seen blocking
all entries that lead to Kashamu’s home
while over 20 security agents were seen
patrolling the street.
Residents of the estate were made to take
alternative routes as all roads leading to
Kashamu’s home were blocked.
In his reaction, the media aide to Kashamu,
Austin Oniyokor, however, berated the drug
agency, accusing it of being the mouthpiece
of Obasanjo and George.
The statement said, “We do not know when
the NDLEA becomes the spokespersons for
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Bode
George. We do not need them to tell us to
address our issues.
“We are addressing our issues. We had told
the court of the planned abduction of
Kashamu and the NDLEA was represented.
The court had given an order asking all the
parties to stay action, pending the
determination of the suit which had been
fixed for Wednesday.”
Oniyokor explained that Kashamu refused to
hand himself over to the NDLEA operatives,
who stormed his Lagos residence on Ladipo
Street, Lekki Phase 1, on Saturday, because
they could not produce a warrant of arrest.
He said if the NDLEA provides a warrant of
arrest against Kashamu, the PDP chieftain
would “hand himself over to them but if not,
he will not.”
But a member of PDP Board of Trustees,
Chief Ebenezer Babatope, described the
allegation by Kashamu that George was
behind his travails as sad and ridiculous.
A statement by Babatope on Sunday said, “It
is sad and ridiculous of Senator-elect, Chief
Buruji Kashamu, to accuse Chief Bode George
of being behind his current ordeal with the
men of the NDLEA.
“This allegation is not true. I have known
George for over 46 years and I know him
never to go on a witch-hunt of anyone as a
result of personal differences or
disagreements. Though the wife of George is
the Director-General of the NDLEA, he can
never attack the person of Kashamu.
“I call on Kashamu to look somewhere else in
locating those who might have been involved
in his travails.”

soure: The punch

Where the source na

sammieguze:
Where the source na

happy now?

mctifey:

happy now?

No where is the sauce