The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Buruji Kashamu

  • Buruji Kashamu, Ben Murray-Bruce remain an issue on social circuit

    The friendship radiating between Buruji Kashamu and Senator Ben Bruce is waxing stronger by the day. The two are now so intimate that hardly can you see one without the other at public functions.

    Buruji, a PDP politician from Ogun State, represents Ogun East at the Senate and he is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government. Ben Bruce, who owns Silverbird Group, is a strong voice in the Senate.

    While Buruji’s attraction to the Niger Delta senator is mutual, it is obvious that the relationship is purely based on ‘commosense’! After all, Senator Ben-Bruce has the power of the media, to a large extent, and his friend is a deep pocket. A good blend, so to say.

  • Breaking: Appeal Court sacks Kashamu, others as Ogun PDP candidates

    The Ibadan Division of the Appeal Court, on Tuesday December 18, 2018 sacked Senator Buruji Kashamu and other ‘candidates’ in the Adebayo Dayo-led faction of the Ogun State PDP.

    The three-man appeal panel set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abeokuta which threw up Kashamu and his factional members as the authentic PDP candidates.

    The panel headed by Justice A. B. Bada, resolved the four issues raised for determination in the appeal in favour of the PDP, saying the appellants were not properly served in the case at the lower court which breached their rights to fair hearing.

    Both Justices Bada and N. Okoronkwo agreed with Justice H. S. Samani who read the lead judgment.

    Read Also: We will ensure even development of Ogun, says Kashamu

    The judgment is expected to have removed the cloud over governorship candidates of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu and the National Assembly and Ogun State House of Assembly candidates for the 2019 election.

    The PDP had dragged the Adedayo Bayo-led faction to the appellate court to challenge the lower court judgment which threw up its candidates.

    They prayed the court to set aside the judgment on the grounds that they were not properly served before judgment was delivered and that the lower court judge was wrong in his judgment.

  • PDP hails court’s validation of Kashamu’s expulsion

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed an Abuja Federal High Court’s verdict upholding the expulsion of Senator Buruji Kashamu from the main opposition party.

    A statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said the verdict has vindicated the party’s position that Kashamu isn’t the Ogun State governorship candidate of the  PDP for the 2019 elections.

    The party said the verdict has reinforced the its recognition of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ladi Adebutu as the authentic candidate PDP governorship candidate for Ogun State.

    The state net said, “Given his expulsion from the PDP in July this year, Senator Buruji lost his membership of our party and as such, did not partake in any of our nomination processes; did not purchase the PDP governorship nomination form and did not participate in any way whatsoever in our Ogun state governorship primaries, yet he had continued to cause confusion and parade himself as PDP candidate.

    Read Also: PDP kicks as EFCC holds Okupe over ONSA funds

    “The PDP invites Nigerians, the people of Ogun state and particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take copious note of the judgment of the court, in suit no: FCT/HC/0303/2017, which today, December 13, 2018 affirmed the powers of the PDP, as provided in her constitution, to discipline and punish any member who contravenes any of the provisions of its constitution.

    “By this judgment, it is clear that Senator Buruji Kashamu is not a member of the PDP, and cannot, under any circumstance whatsoever, claim to be the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun state, moreso, when he never participated in any of our nomination processes.

    “While hailing the judgment as victory for democracy, the PDP charges INEC to copiously take note of the development and reflect such in every issue regarding the conduct of governorship election in Ogun state.

    “Finally, the PDP commends the people of Ogun state for standing steadfast with its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, who is already coasting to victory in the 2019 polls”.

  • Kashamu insists he’s authentic PDP governorship candidate

    Senator Buruji Kashamu representing Ogun East Senatorial district at the National Assembly on Monday insisted that he is the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state and urged the National Chairman of the party, Uche Srcondus, not to elevate party supremacy above the judiciary.
    Kashamu said he and his running mate, Dr. Reuben Abati, are the candidate of the people for the governorship polls in Ogun State according to the  expressed wishes of the people, which, he addd, was equally affirmed by the courts.
    The Senator who spoke while addressing thousands of supporters in Ijebu – Igbo, the Headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state, shortly after he was unveiled
    by the Dayo Bayo – led arm of the Ogun State PDP, as the governorship candidate in the state,  admitted that the party is supreme, but said “it is not superior to the judiciary.”
    According to him, nobody should   continue to act in contempt of the teeming members, leaders, elders of the party and the Courts in the name of “Party Supremacy.
    The Senator who also extended hands of fellowship to every member of the party – both the agreeable and disagreeable ones, assured of his  readiness, ability and willingness to work with everyone in the overall interest of PDP.

    Read Also: PDP alleges freezing of Peter Obi’s accounts

    He said: “Politics is like a game of chess; full of intrigues, ups and downs. But, the mammoth crowd you have seen here says it all. We would not be distracted. We are focused on our Mission of Taking Ogun State to Greater Heights.
    “I am a grassroots politician; a proud Ijebu man and a good citizen of Ogun State who is loved by his people.
    “By the grace of the Almighty Allah, I am an entrepreneur; an employer of labour with several years of experience in business and human resources management.
    ” In 2015, when I contested to represent the good people of Ogun East Senatorial District, I promised selfless representation. That is what I have given.
    “And there is no better proof than the over 90 projects that we have attracted to various parts of Ogun East Senatorial District. It is the first of its kind. No one has that record in our Senatorial District.
    “As you are aware, I have also touched many lives and communities outside Ogun East and Ogun State through the Omoilu Foundation.
    “This aspiration affords me yet another opportunity to continue to touch lives in diverse ways and on a bigger plane.
    “Since government is a continuum, I believe we would continue from where the current government stops, and together, we would take our dear Ogun State to Greater Heights.
    “As presented by my running mate, Dr. Reuben Abati, we have a blueprint that outlines our programmes and policies if you vote us as your Governor and Deputy Governor on the 2nd of March, 2019. Will you vote for us?
    “This is your sure ticket for Taking Ogun State to Greater Heights. The Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State Exco is the ONLY authentic and legally recognized PDP structure in the state. The people have spoken; the Courts have affirmed it and INEC has complied.
    ” Truly, the party is supreme. But, it is not superior to the judiciary. People cannot continue to act in contempt of the teeming members, leaders and elders of the Party and the Courts – all in the name of “Party Supremacy.
    “At some point, like in saner climes, the judiciary must intervene and rein in those acting in utter disregard of our Party’s Constitution and the laws of the land. That is what has happened in our case.
    “The national leadership of our Party supervised and approved the congresses that produced the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led State Exco in 2016.
    “There have been several court judgments that affirmed the validity of the State Exco under the leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo.
     “In the build up to the 2019 general election, congresses were conducted by the Dayo-led State Exco in line with Section 25 (1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) which states that, ‘There shall be a State Party Congress which shall consist of: (a) The State Chairman who shall be the Chairman. Section 25 (2c) states further, ‘The functions of the State Congress shall be to: (c) Elect governorship candidates of the Party.
    “That is all we have done. So, if anyone decides to go and collect a flag in an office in Abuja, it does not bother us. They say they are the candidates of the Party.
    “We say we are the candidates of the people and the Rule of Law. As the Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, I extend my hands of fellowship to all and sundry. I am ready, able and willing to work with everyone in the overall interest of our Party.
    “My dear good people of Ogun State, I am your son, your servant and a true representative of the people. I am willing, ready and able to serve you. I urge to elect me, Alaanu Mekunnu as your Governor.  Mine will be a people-oriented government.”

  • PDP governorship candidate cautions INEC over party list

    A governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Mr. Ladi Adebutu has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against changing the list of candidates submitted to it by the leadership of the PDP.

    Adebutu who stormed the PDP Abuja secretariat on Thursday alleged attempts by a faction in the party’s Ogun State chapter to smuggle in unauthorized list of candidates to the commission.

    Adebutu, who represents Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North in the House of Representatives, said the national leadership of the PDP had dissolved all parallel state executives in the state.

    According to him, the state executive was later reconstituted following valid election into the various positions. He accused a faction, led by the senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu of dividing the PDP in the state.

    He accused the Kashamu faction of attempting to submit list of candidates to INEC through the back door.

    Speaking with journalists at the PDP secretariat, Adebutu said,  “The National Working Committee set up election and screening committees. Forms were sold, we participated in the primaries and 40 candidates emerged in Ogun State.

    “But a parallel group printed forms, sold the forms, held a convention and people emerged. If we allow this kind of lawlessness where people stay in their rooms to pick candidates  and obtain court injunction to sustain it, then there is trouble.

    “The element of transparency is totally destroyed. The law clearly states that there shall be only one primary organised by a party.

    “This is a deliberate attempt to make the PDP a weaker party in Ogun State like what we saw in Edo and Ondo States. The time we could have spent campaigning, we spent it on conflict resolution in the two cases”.

    The governorship candidate urged the INEC and well meaning Nigerians to stand up and oppose those he described as enemies of democracy.

  • Kashamu to INEC, DSS, Police: Disregard PDP expulsion 

    There appeared to be no letup in the row between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, over the expulsion of the later by the PDP National leadership as Kashamu on Monday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Department of State Services (DSS) and Police to disregard his expulsion notice to them from PDP.

    Kashamu, who in a counter – correspondence to the correspondence of the PDP national leadership to the three agencies, insisted that his expulsion is a stillbirth and cannot stand the test of the law.

    Read Also:Expulsion: PDP writes INEC, DSS, Police over Kashamu, others

    The Senator’s position was contained in a letter dated August 6 and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus and copied to the INEC Chairman, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Commissioner of Police and State Director of DSS, among others.

    The PDP National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem, had on August 1 written INEC and security agencies of the PDP’s recent decision to expel Kashamu, Bayo Dayo, Semiu Sodipo and Segun Seriki – all of Ogun State chapter of PDP, over alleged anti-party activities.

    Kashamu who is a major financier of the state chapter of PDP since 2011, dismissed the correspondences as one  borne out of ignorance,  most ridiculous, deceitful and criminally contemptuous as the National Legal Adviser of PDP acted outside his jurisdiction as stipulated in Article 42 of the Party’s Constitution.

    He said only the national chairman and the national secretary that have powers to issue such correspondences as stipulated in Articles 35 and 36 of the party’s constitution, adding that there were also  pending litigations in which the courts restrained the party  from taking any disciplinary action against him and others.

    “Thus, I respectfully urge you to discountenance the fake letter, as it is not worth more than the piece of paper on which it was written.

    “Secondly, the National Executive Committee (NEC) could not have validly expelled me and others when there are subsisting judgments and orders of court forbidding them from taking any disciplinary action against me and the others.

    “If they had taught through their ill-advised step, they would have realized that it offends the provision of Article 57 (6) of the PDP Constitution.

    “It should be clear to all law-abiding citizens and institutions that the purported expulsion, in spite of subsisting orders and judgments of the court, is a still birth which cannot see the light of the day. It is an act of illegality that cannot stand the test of the law.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, I and the others remain valid, card-carrying and financial members of the PDP. Nobody can take away our rights and privileges because the courts had forbidden the party from doing so before it purportedly moved against us.

    “We will continue to operate within the law as PDP members, senator and State Exco members.

    “Finally, I wish to inform you that I have written letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Police and the State Security Service (SSS) urging them to disregard the valueless and incompetent letter written in defiance of several subsisting court judgments and orders, and continue to relate with us as the authentic and legally recognized leaders and members of the party,” Kashamu said.

  • Expulsion: PDP writes INEC, DSS, Police over Kashamu, others

    …As Senator rejects expulsion from party
    The National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Police Command in Ogun State, notifying each of them of the expulsion of Senator Buruji Kashamu and three others from the party.
    Senator Kashamu representing Ogun East Senatorial district at the Senate, factional Chairman of PDP in Ogun State, Engr. Bayo Dayo,  and two others were expelled from the party weeks  ago by the PDP National leadership for alleged anti – party activities but Kashamu and Dayo rejected the expulsion, dismissing it last Thursday as a ruse and illegality that shall not stand.
    The Senator and Dayo Bayo insisted that they remained full – ledge member of PDP, saying a subsisting court order protects their membership.
    However, in a letter  by the PDP National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem,  dated August 1 and addressed separately to the trio of the  Resident Electoral Commissioner, the State Director of DSS and the Commissioner of Police in the state, the party said the expelled persons have ceased to be members of PDP.
    In the said letter, the party recalled that the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 80th meeting held on July 23, expelled the quartet of Kashamu, the factional state chairman and secretary, Bayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, respectively and Segun Seriki, for “various infractions and violations of express provisions of the constitution of the party 2017 (as amended).”

    Read also:Kashamu holds Mega rally, rejects expulsion by PDP

     “Grateful, we write to bring to your notice and information that on July 23, 2018, the 80th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC)  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expelled Senator Buruji Kashamu, Mr.  Semiu Sodipo,  Engr. Bayo Dayo and Segun Seriki, from the party for various infractions  and violations of express provisions of the Constitution of the party 2017 (as amended).
    “Accordingly, they have ceased to be members of our party forthwith and lost all rights and or privileges, to act or represent the party in any capacity whatsoever. The extract of the 80th meeting of the NEC is attached for your perusal,” the letter reads.

  • Extradition: Court orders AGF, NDLEA not to take steps against Kashamu

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) not to take any further steps in their alleged renewed plot to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States.

    Justice Babatunde Quadri gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Kashamu through his lawyer, J. O. Odubela (SAN).

    Justice Quadri particularly ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/530/18 filed by Kashamu.

    The judge also granted the applicant leave to serve processes in relation to the suit, including the originating summons on NDLEA outside the jurisdiction of the court at 4 Shaw Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Odubela said Kashamu decided to seek the court’s protection after he was informed that the respondents have renewed plans to extradite him to the U.S.

    He said the applicant has been able to establish that if the court did not intervene and protect him by restraining the defendants from abducting, arresting or detaining him with the intention to extradite him, his rights would have been breached before the hearing of the substantive suit.

     

  • Kashamu seeks to set aside N87.35bn judgment debt

    Senator Buruji Kashamu has approached a Lagos High Court in Igbosere to set aside a N50 million per day judgment debt awarded against him, following his failure to attend a Case Management Conference (CMC).

    The judgment sum, awarded by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo on January 24, runs from August 14, 2013, and – 1747 days after – has risen to N87.35billion as at May 27.

    The amount appreciates at N50m daily and at 10 per cent interest rate per annum, until the defendants’ yield up possession of the subject matter of the suit – a premises – to the claimant, Lexon Properties Ltd.

    The second and third defendants in the suit, marked LD/765/2013, are Kasmal Properties Limited and the Kano State Government.

    But The Nation learnt  that the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, had filed an application seeking to set aside the judgment.

    Justice Onigbanjo, in the ruling, a copy of which was seen by The Nation , held: “Pursuant to the provision of Order 23 Rule 5 of the High Court Procedure Rules 2012, I find the first defendant’s failure or refusal to attend CMC as scheduled today indicative of their being substantially unprepared to participate in the conference or their failure to participate in the conference in good faith.

    “Consequently, I shall enter judgment in respect of appropriate portions of the claimant’s claims against the defendants in line with the provision of the rule of the court.

    “Judgment in the sum of N50 million daily commencing from 14th day of August 2013, until the defendants yield up possession of the premises subject matter of the suit to the claimant is hereby entered in the claimant’s favour against the defendant.

    “It is further ordered that interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum be payable on the judgment sum from the 14th August, 2013, until final liquidation of the judgment sum”.

    The claimant, in its amended statement of claim filed through its counsel, Mrs. Obele Akinniranye and L. Adeoti stated, among others, that the suit arose following a Lease Agreement of March 23, 2007, it with the Kano State Government for a property at 1228 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    It added that both Kashamu and his firm are in possession of the property and had denied its workers access to it.

  • Extradition: Appeal Court lifts order stopping Sen. Kashamu’s arrest

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division on Friday set aside a Federal High Court order which perpetually restrained the Federal Government from arresting Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    The appellate court also set aside another order which nullified a warrant for Kashamu’s arrest and prevented extradition proceedings from being commenced against him.

    Buruji, who represents Ogun East in the Red Chamber, is wanted by the United States of America (U.S.A) to stand trial for alleged importation of hard drugs into the country.

    On May 25, 2015 Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court perpetually restrained the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other agencies of the Federal Government from “arresting, restraining, detaining, attacking or otherwise effecting the abduction” of Kashamu upon charges based on allegations of drug trafficking levelled against him by the US Government.

    Justice Abang also set aside and nullified a warrant for the Senator’s arrest for extradition proceedings issued by another Federal High Court judge, Justice Saliu Saidu.

    The extradition attempt followed an Extradition Treaty between the Federal Government and the U.S.A.

    But, disatisfied, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) appealed both decisions.

    It argued, through its counsel, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), that Justice Abang erred in granting some of the injunctive reliefs.

    It urged the appellate court to set aside both lower courts’ judgment on the ground of miscarriage of justice.

    It further claimed that Kashamu suppressed facts before the lower court to secure the restraining order against his extradition.

    But in his counter application of last November 7, Kashamu, through his counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Hakeem O. Afolabi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the AGF’s appeal.

    In unanimous verdicts on Friday, and in two consolidated judgments, a three-man panel comprising Justices Yagarta Nimpar, Joseph Ikyegh and Anthony Ogakwu, upheld the government’s argument and upturned the lower court’s orders.

    Justice Nimpar, who read the summary judgment, held that the lower court, having struck out several paragraphs in the affidavit relating to allegations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was behind the Senator’s travails and alleged plans to forcibly extradite him to the US, the same court was wrong to retain other paragraphs of the same affidavit containing hearsay allegations against Mr Dapo Abiodun and Chief Godwin Obla SAN.

    Justice Nimpar observed that the lower court relied heavily on speculations and conjectures in arriving at the judgment “which is not permitted in law.”

    The court berated the lower court for not giving the AGF’s counsel opportunity to file a counter affidavit in opposition to the case file presented by Kashamu, when  under the rules they still had three days to react to the processes.

    This infraction, Justice Nimpar held, nullified the entire proceedings.

    Justice Nimpar held: “The preliminary objection filed by the appellant against the substantive appeals is dismissed as lacking in merits.

    “The appeal filed by the AGF against the ruling of the lower court is not statute barred.

    “The oral statement of threat of abduction and forcibly transporting Senator BURUJI KASHAMU to the US is insufficient having not been backed by concrete evidence.”