Court To Rule On Kashamu’s Suit To Block Alleged Extradition Plot

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned till May 27, 2015, to rule on a fundamental rights enforcement suit by the Senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, challenging an alleged plot to extradite him to the United States of America over alleged drug charges.
In the suit, Kashamu alleged that the Inspector General of Police and 11 others are plotting to abduct and forcibly transport him to the US to face trial on alleged drug-related offences, which he had often denied knowledge of.


According to him, he had uncovered plans by the defendants doing the bidding of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to arrest him during his swearing in as a senator and to transport him to the US in a private plane to face trial before Judge Norgle.
Kashamu is praying the court to declare the alleged plot to abduct and extradite him as an infringement on his fundamental human right to liberty, freedom of association and freedom of movement as protected by sections 35, 40 and 41 of the Constitution.
In his argument, Kashanu’s counsel at the hearing of the matter said that his client had rushed to court to seek protection because “when you see a danger coming, you don’t have to wait until it takes place.”
He further argued that none of the 12 respondents sued had controverted the alleged plot to abduct his client. Opposing the application, counsel to the Inspector General of police and the Interpol National Central Bureau, argued that Kashamu failed to show any proof of the alleged move to abduct and extradite him.
The IG described Kashamu’s action as speculative, urged the court to dismiss the suit, adding that abduction is a criminal offence, which the police IG, as the foremost law enforcement agent in the country, would never engage in.
Other respondents through their counsel also asked the court to dismiss Kashamu’s suit.
Apart from the IG, others joined in the suit are Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Director General, Department of State Service; and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly; the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission; Nigeria Customs Services; the Nigeria Immigration Service; and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.