News: Buruji KashamuSenator-elect to appear at extradition hearing today, May 25

Kashamu has been under house arrest since Saturday, May 23, when his house was invaded by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

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  Buruji Kashamu  IO Nigeria 
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  Kashamu's barricaded Lekki home  Twitter 
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 Buruji Kashamu Senator-elect placed under house arrest, threatens suicide

Embattled Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu is set to face an extradition hearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos today, May 25, 2015.

Kashamu has been under house arrest since Saturday, May 23, when his house was invaded by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The NDLEA officials were however unable to arrest him for lack of a warrant authorizing the move.

Kashamu is set to be extradited to the US to face drug charges levelled against him.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain was indicted for a drug deal in Chicago in 1998 but has managed to evade capture since then.

“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,” a statement by NDLEA’s Head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell reads.

The statement continues:

“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.”

Kashamu’s lawyers are also expected to challenge the plans to extradite him.

The Senator-elect had earlier accused former President, Olusegun Obasanjo of plotting to abduct and forcefully extradite him during his inauguration on May 29, 2015.