We won’t leave Kashamu’s house – NDLEA

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said it will remain in the house of Ogun State Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, until he submits himself to the court for trial.
The agency maintained that it is empowered to implement the United States’ extradition request of Kashamu and will pursue it to a logical end.
In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and signed by NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Ofoyeju Mitchell, the agency said it has not violated the rights of Kashamu in its handling of the matter.
NDLEA, which declared that Kashamu refused to appear before the court yesterday, said his house would remain cordoned off until the politician appears before the court.
The agency, which pleaded with Kashamu to respect the laws of the land under which he seeks to be a Senator, said the due process will be respected at every point in time.
The statement read: “Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu has failed to appear in court from his house where he is being closely monitored by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“The agency is working hard to ensure that he submits himself to the due process of the law. His house remains cordoned by anti-narcotic officers pending his appearance in court.
“The extradition move by the NDLEA for Kashamu to answer drug trafficking charges is legal. The agency has not violated his rights and will continue to work within the confines of the law.
“He has been assured that due process of the law shall be adhered to at every stage.
”NDLEA is the appropriate government agency to implement his extradition request and will diligently pursue the processes to a logical conclusion.
“It is expected that Kashamu will willingly submit himself to the laws of the country under which he seeks to serve as a senator.”
In an interview with Nigerian Pilot, Mitchell said the agency was not envisaging Kashamu not to comply, saying that it will still expect him to do so within the next few hours.
“We are not expecting him not to comply; we will see what would happen in the next few hours and know what to do within the limit of the law.
“Taking him to court is necessary to start his extradition process, a formal one for that matter and as a distinguished Senator-elect, we expect him to comply,” he said.
When asked what would be the next line of action if Kashamu refused to come out, Mitchel said he wouldn’t want to pre-empt the actions of the agency.
A short message sent to journalists by Kashamu’s Personal Assistant, Austin Oniyokor reads: “It has just come to limelight that the NDLEA did not obtain a warrant of arrest from the court as required by the extradition treaty.
“Kashamu’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, requested from them the court we are going to, only to be told that they are just going to file the papers as no court has been assigned the case or has ordered his arrest.”
In anticipation that Kashamu may be brought to a Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday, scores of his loyalists stormed the premises protesting his purported arrest.
The supporters who displayed placards with inscriptions such as: “Leave Kashamu Alone,” “We Voted For Him, He Is Our Man,” “Kashamu Is A Great Statesman,”, “Kashamu Is Not A Drug Baron”, “Illegal Detention, Illegal Arrest Must Stop,” “Kashamu Buruji Is Our Senator, OBJ, BG, Stay Away From Him,” “Kashamu Is Innocent,” “This Is Democracy, Why Illegal Arrest.”
Other Inscriptions Read: “No Warrant of Arrest Detaining Kashamu For No Cause,” “Kashamu, Ogun Youths Are Solidly Behind You,” Kashamu Is Not A Drug Baron,” “No To Political Victimisation,” “Leave Kashamu Alone, Don’t Steal Our Joy From Us.”