The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its action follows a formal request for extradition received from the Embassy of the United States of America pending the arraignment of Senator-elect, Mr. Buruju Kashamu before the Federal High Court tomorrow, May 25.
Officials of the NDLEA had yesterday placed Mr. Kashamu, a Senator-elect from Ogun State, under house arrest in Lagos.
In a statement by the Head, Public Affairs of the NDLEA, Ofoyeju Mitchell, the agency explained that Mr. 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.
The Senator-elect, 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.
The politician, who holds dual Nigerian/Beninese citizenship, has taken multiple preemptive actions to thwart U.S. extradition efforts such as making 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 U.S.
Mr. 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 Mr. 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.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA has given the assurance that Mr. Kashamu will be afforded all the protection of the law and will be given his day in court.
The drug law enforcement agency also dismissed assertions that he would be bundled under cover of darkness and whisked out of the country.
•Adapted from a Channels TV report.