Kashamu sues NDLEA, EFCC, others over extradition plot

Buruji Kashamu

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, has dragged the Chairman, National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency and 11 others to court over an alleged plot to extradite him to the United States of America to face trial on alleged drug-related offences.

Kashamu, who instituted a fundamental rights enforcement action before a Federal High Court in Lagos, is seeking a declaration that the move to abduct and forcibly transport him to the United States of America amounted to a violation of his right to liberty, freedom of association and freedom of movement as protected by sections 35, 40 and 41 of the Constitution

He alleged that the plot was a further move in the political designs of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that he (Kashamu) was denied the opportunity of enjoying the mandate freely given to him to represent the people of Ogun East Senatorial District in the Senate.

Kashamu alleged that he had uncovered plans by Obasanjo to mastermind his arrest during his swearing in as a senator and to transport him to the US in a private plane to face trial before Judge Norgle.

Kashamu urged the court to declare as unlawful the alleged collusion between the 12 respondents and his political opponents, led by Obasanjo, to abduct and forcibly transport him to the US.

Apart from the NDLEA chairman, also joined as respondents in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/505/15 are the Inspector General of Police; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Director General, Department of State Service; 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; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission; Nigeria Customs Services; the Nigeria Immigration Service; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The senator-elect is seeking an order of the court directing the police IG to “provide a security detail of at least six armed police officers to protect the applicant at all times of the day and to prevent (him from) any attack or abduction.”

Kashamu, in a 92-paragraph affidavit deposed to by himself, explained that though he was incarcerated in Brixton Prisons in London between 1998 and January 10, 2013, he was however later discharged after Judge Tim Workman held that “the allegations of the US authorities against me with regards to importation of narcotics to the US was a case of mistaken identity.”

Justice Okon Abang has adjourned till May 8, 2015 to take Kashamu’s fundamental rights enforcement application and the respondents’ preliminary objections.