Be getting ready for extradition to US, NDLEA to Kashamu

Firstclass newsline learnt that the Agency has urged and adviced the
newly senator that there is no escape root for him.

Mr buruji kashamu,the ogun east district senator was said to have
focused on how he will defend himself today at the court hearing on
his case.It was learnt that the agency dragged the senator following
the order of extradition by united states of America.

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 a source 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.
Firstclassnewsline.net