NDLEA operatives had vacated the
Ogun State senator-elect's Lekki residence on Thursday, May 28 following a
court order.
Nelwly elected Senator Buruji
Kashamu
(Punch)
The National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) has said the extradition effort against newly elected
Senator, Buruji Kashamu of Ogun State is still on despite the withdrawal
of its agents from his Lekki home.
For about five days, NDLEA
operatives were stationed at Kashamu’s Lekki residence, placing him under house
arrest following a claimed extradition request from the United States
over drug related indictment.
The court had ordered NDLEA officers
to vacate the Ogun senator's residence three days after they invaded the area,
but they remained there until about two days later.
The agency said it withdrew from
Kashamu’s house after it officially received a copy of the court order on
Thursday May 28, 2015.
In a statement signed by the
agency’s spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, on Friday, May 29, NDLEA said
Kashamu’s lawyer signed an undertaking to produce him in court for hearing.
It said, “this is not the end of
the case as the NDLEA has filed a formal extradition process at the Federal
High Court. The agency is following the due process of law and will ensure that
national interest is balanced against the constitutional rights of Mr. Kashamu.
“The mission of the NDLEA is not and
has never been to abduct him, but to engage the extradition process. The agency
is taking necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Kashamu is available to stand
trial as required by law.
“To this end, the NDLEA has a
provisional warrant of arrest on him as well as a formal request for his
extradition. The honourable thing for him to do is to submit to the due process
of the law as pledged.
“The NDLEA wishes to reiterate that
it will comply with all court orders and not forcefully abduct and take him to
the United States for trial.”
The anti-graft agency added that the court did
not prevent it from embarking on an extradition process against Kashamu.
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