Kashamu Starts Legal Battle Against His Extradition

Buruji Kashamu, the senator-elect in Ogun East Senatorial District, has stated categorically that Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, is head of his political opponent in the country.

Kashamu said that his political activities have brought him some powerful enemies including his former political leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The senator-elect and the former president were political allies between 2009 and 2012, PM News reports. At that time Kashamu worked for Obasanjo and his candidate for governorship of Ogun state, General Olurin. However, they fell out because of Obasanjo’s stand for internal democracy in the Peoples Democratic Party. Consequently, he and his allies resorted to litigation to loosen Obasanjo’s hold on the party.
Kashamu further accused Obasanjo of pressuring Nigeria’s attorney general to have him extradited to the USA.

According to Sahara Reporters, the lawsuit alleges that Obasanjo had made arrangements with some US officials to have Kashamu arrested and flown to the USA during his swearing in as senator on May 29, 2015.
The lawsuit also disclosed that Kashamu was concerned that the incoming administration of president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, could be used to perpetrate illegality and subvert the Nigerian judicial system.
The suit is seeking nine declarative orders from the court among which are:
– An order restraining the defendants and their agents from arresting, detaining, or otherwise effecting his abduction upon spurious allegation.
-An order directing the clerk of the National Assembly to accord him every facility and privileges due to him as a senator-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

-A declaration that arrangements being made by the defendants in collusion with United State of America security operatives in west Africa and his political opponents led General Olusegun Obasanjo to abduct him and forcibly transport him to United States of America on the basis of allegations which have been the subject of investigation by Interpol and litigation in competent court in United Kingdom and which he has been exonerated are illegal, unlawfuL, ultra vires and constitute breach of his fundamental right to freedom of movement as enshrined in Section 41 of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Meanwile, the US officials have insisted on starting fresh moves for Kashamu extradition to face drug trafficking charges on American soil.
Buruji, in his turn, has stated that he is not evading trial for drug related offences in the USA but noted  that the American authorities only needed to follow due process and not abuse his human rights if a trial were to hold.