Court order on Kashamu, a distraction and unlawful – NDLEA

Firstclass newsline learnt that Justice Ibrahim Buba of Federal High
Court in Lagos, had on Tuesday ordered tens of officials of the agency
to vacate Kashamu's Lagos Mansion on Oladipo Omotosho Street, Lekki
without delay.
The court had described the siege, which started on Saturday, as sub
judice on the grounds that the agency did not follow due process.
In a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the
NDLEA described the court order as trivial and an attempt to prevent
it from performing its statutory functions. The agency maintained it
had received an order from the United States Government to extradite
Kashamu for drug related offences and claimed to have served a warrant
of arrest on him.
The statement read, "NDLEA has described as diversionary and
inconsequential reports of a court order directing its men to vacate
the residence of Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, and requesting both
the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke and
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade to appear
in court.
"The NDLEA does not believe that any court will issue an order
preventing a government agency from performing its statutory
responsibilities in a lawful manner. The Agency has therefore refused
to be distracted and will continue to maintain presence at the
residence. It is advisable that Kashamu respects the law by submitting
himself to the due process of the law.
"We are prepared to explore all legal means in handling this case to a
logical conclusion. The Nigerian Government has received a formal
request from the United States government for the extradition of
Prince Buriji Kashamu. It also has a provisional warrant of arrest on
him contrary to claims by his attorneys."
The statement stated further that Kashamu had been a target of both
the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security for over 20 years
and was further indicted by the Grand Jury in the Northern District of
Illinois, United States on heroin trafficking charges.
Firstclassnewsline.net