Buruji Kashamu: wanted in America

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it’s bid to arrest Prince Buruji Kashamu, a PDP senator-elect from Ogun State on Saturday followed a formal request for extradition received from the Embassy of the United States of America, pending his arraignment before the Federal High Court on Monday, 25 May.

Buruji is now under house arrest in his Lagos home.

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,” Alhaji, 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 Senator-elect holds dual Nigerian/Beninese citizenship, has taken multiple preemptive actions, both in the US and Nigeria, to thwart U.S. extradition efforts.

Channels Tv reported that at the time of his arrest, NDLEA officers allowed 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.

The NDLEA in a statement by its Head, Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, however assured Kashamu that he will be afforded all the protections of the law and will be given his day in court.

“Assertions that he will be bundled up under cover of darkness and whisked out of the country are untrue and should not be given any credence.

 “We expect Kashamu as a senator-elect to demonstrate confidence in the Nigerian judicial system and not insinuate otherwise”, said NDLEA.