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Tag: Kashamu

  • PDP expels Kashamu, three others

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expelled Senator Kashamu Buruji for anti-party activities.

    Buruji (Ogun East) was expelled along with his assciates – Semiu Sodipo, Adebayo Dayo and Segun Seriki – all members of the Ogun State chapter.

    PDP National Publicity Secretary  Kola Ologbondiyan announced the expulsion after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

    Ologbondiyan said the NEC took “the disciplinary action against its members who have been hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in ways that were detrimental to the interest of the PDP”.

    The NEC meeting was presided over by National Chairman Uche Secondus. It was attended by party chieftains across the six geopolitical zones, including the National Assembly caucus, serving and former governors, former ministers, past principal officers of the National Assembly and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    In a swift reaction last night, the senator said his expulsion cannot stand.

    In a statement last night, Kashamu said: “My attention has been drawn to the purported decision taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) allegedly expelling me and the other chieftains of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the party.

    “It is clear from the ill-advised decision that the Secondus-led National Working Committee is lawless and undemocratic. No due process was followed as enshrined in the constitution of the party. Since the initial 30-day suspension lapsed on  January 9, 2018, they do not have any right to take any disciplinary action against me. This decision cannot stand because Article 57 (6) of the PDP Constitution says ‘Any decision taken against a member who has not been informed of the charges against him or has not been given any opportunity of defending himself shall be null and void’”.

    He added: “Besides, there are no less than two suits challenging my initial suspension. The first is Suit No. FHC/L/ABJ/CS/1254/2017 between Senator Buruji Kashamu Vs. PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the National Secretary and INEC before the Honourable Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “PDP should not forget that it also instituted a case against me and other leaders of the party in the South West at the High Court of the Federal Territory in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/0303/2017 as per the Honourable Justice Valentine Ashi in which the court made an order nullifying and setting aside my purported suspension on the 9th of January, 2018.

    “The court also ordered parties, including PDP ‘to maintain status quo’…

    “Therefore, the purported expulsion cannot stand in the face of the Rule of Law. It is null and void. I and my associates are fully in the PDP whether anybody likes it or not. We will continue to operate with the law as PDP members, senator and exco.”

  • Kashamu blames Fayose’s ‘arrogance’ for PDP’s defeat

    Senator Kashamu Buruji has decribed the Peoples Democratic Pary (PDP)’s loss of the Ekiti governorship election as “an evil fortold”

    The Ogun East senator PDP senator at the weekend said outgoing Governor Ayodele Fayose’s arrogance led to PDP’s defeat.

    He said: “How would the PDP have won when the former interim Caretaker Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, allowed Governor Fayose to drive away other stakeholders in the party in Ekiti State and in the South West? After driving away all the bigwigs and stakeholders in Ekiti State, they could not but work against the party.

    “Makarfi and others encouraged him to perpetrate all manner of illegalities and the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC inherited him and never really did anything to rein him in. They were sold the lies that he could do it all alone.”

    According to the lawmaker, the election was a referendum on Fayose, not the PDP.

    “The good people of Ekiti State wanted to do away with anything Fayose and that was what happened. That is why he lost even in his own local government. It is not that the people do not like PDP. They still like PDP but detest Fayose and his antics. He is cancerous to the PDP and since the leadership of the party could not deal with him, the good people of Ekiti State simply helped us to remove him.

    “All the political tokenism of frying garri, jumping on okada and going to eat at bukas are not what would impact on the life of the average Ekiti man or woman. To what extent has he gone to make life better for the average Ekiti man or woman? Has he provided a conducive environment for them to realise their full potentials? The people saw through his deceit and rejected him,” Kashamu said.

    Kashamu said the PDP must be repositioned and restructured to accommodate all well-meaning leaders and stakeholders.

    “There is no notable leader of the party in the South West that Fayose has not insulted. Most of our leaders do not want to have anything to do with him. Should the party continue to rely on him, the PDP will continue to lose woefully.

    “Unless and until the PDP starts to field contented Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their businesses or careers, the government of the day will continue to beam their searchlight on the mediocre that enriched themselves through public office. Given his unimpeachable integrity as an individual, President Muhammadu Buhari would continue to ride high on the horse of morality and become more politically advantageous over them.”

    The senator urged Ekiti State Governor-elect Kayode Fayemito “restore the values of Ekiti State that have been bastardised by Fayose. The people have invested their trust in him and he should not let them down. Politics and governance should be about the people and not parties.”

     

  • We won’t take steps against Kashamu, NDLEA tells court

    THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday that it would not take steps yet on issues relating to the alleged request for the extradition of Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States (U.S.) for trial on drug-related offences.

    A lawyer and senior official of NDLEA, Mike Kassa, gave the assurance at the resumption of proceedings before a Federal High Court in Abuja in a case filed against the agency and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Kashamu on the issue.

    Kassa told the court that contrary to Kashamu’s claim  that the defendants were plotting to arrest and extradite him to the U.S.,  the NDLEA has agreed to abide by an order made on June 5, this year, by Justice Babatunde Quadri (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja), ordering parties in a similar suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.

    Kassa’s intervention was informed by the apprehension expressed by Kashamu’s lawyer, J. O. Odubela (SAN), who told the court that there were moves to apprehend his client and extradite him to the U.S.

    Odubela prayed the court to restrain the defendants, particularly NDLEA, from arresting  his client since he has a pending case for the enforcement of his  fundamental rights.

    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, said making such an order now would amount to him overruling himself having declined, at the last date (May 30, this year) to grant a similar interim order sought by the applicant.

    Following the judge’s pronouncement, Odubela proceeded to urge the judge to ask the defendants to give an undertaking not to take any steps against his client, including arresting or extraditing him while the case was pending.

    It was at that point that the lawyer to NDLEA stood up and informed the court that his client was not making any move to either arrest or extradite Kashamu as being claimed by the applicant’s lawyer.

    The lawyer said his client has complied with the order made by another judge of the same Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering parties in a similar case to maintain status quo pending its determination.

    Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned to October 18 to enable defendants respond to the applicant’s originating summons.

    Kashamu is, in the originating summons, praying the court to among others, restrain the defendants from giving effect to their alleged plot to arrest and extradite him to the U.S.

    It is part of his contention that the issue has been resolved by many court pronouncements that have exonerated him.

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

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has 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 (U.S.).

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

    Justice Quadri particularly ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit 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 had, while arguing the application, said his client resorted to seeking the court’s protection upon being informed that the respondents have renewed plans to extradite his client 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 his substantive suit.

    Odubela added: “We have showed that the applicant had even been tried in England and exonerated. Our contention is whether, in view of the judgment of the court in England, the Federal Government or any of its agencies can still request the U.S. to file a fresh request for the extradition of the applicant.”

    Upon enquiry from the court, Odubela said the Court of Appeal gave judgment on May 4 this year and reversed the judgment by the Federal High Court, Lagos, prohibiting Kashamu’s extradition.

    He said the Court of Appeal, in reversing the judgement, noted that there was no evidence that the AGF and NDLEA were taking steps to effect his extradition as at when the judgment was given.

    Odubela added: “We have also appealed to the Supreme Court and filed a motion for injunction. Despite that, they (the defendants) have gone ahead to tell the U.S. government that the case on the matter is over and that they can make fresh request for his extradition.”

    He said now, there are actual evidence of steps being taken by the defendants to extradite the applicant.

    Odubela tendered a certified true copy of Punch newspaper of May 13, where it was reported that Federal Government has demanded for fresh U.S. request for the applicant’s extradition.

    He added that two days after the judgment of the Appeal Court, an official of the NDLEA, Shehu Abubakar, told his client that plans were at advance stage to have him arrested and taken to the U.S. within a week.

    Justice Quadri ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit in line with the doctrine of lis pendens.

    He adjourned to September 24 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

     

     

  • Alleged abduction plot: Kashamu urges Supreme Court to enforce his rights

    Senator representing Ogun East Buruji Kashamu has faulted the Court of Appeal judgment dismissing his fundamental rights suit.

    Through his lawyers, he filed two notices of appeal at the Supreme Court, urging it to enforce his rights and to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment.

    Kashamu said the Court of Appeal erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice by dismissing his preliminary objections and ignoring evidence of a plot to abduct and extradite him.

    “The lower court misdirected itself when it held that the appellant has not made out a case of breach or likelihood of breach of his fundamental rights,” Kashamu said.

    The senator argued that his affidavit before the Court of Appeal was full of facts showing an alleged plot by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and others to abduct and transport him to the United States to face trial over alleged offences in respect of which he had been exonerated.

    “There was uncontroverted evidence before the lower court that in 2000, during the Presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, an illegal abduction was carried out against a Nigerian citizen with the assistance of government officials with the consent of the said President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “The lower court was wrong in failing to see that all those information that were available to the appellant were enough to justify an apprehension of likelihood of breach of his fundamental right to liberty through his abduction by the respondents and transportation to the USA.

    “The decision of the lower court is contrary to the established position of the law that any person who apprehends that his fundamental rights has been, is being or is likely to be contravened is entitled to bring an action to enforce his fundamental rights,” Kashamu said.

    He argued that the Court of Appeal erred in assuming that he ought to wait until the plot to have him abducted had been executed before approaching the court for redress.

    He said he provided enough evidence to justify the protection of his fundamental right to liberty, which he said the Court of Appeal overlooked.

    According the appellant, the Court of Appeal also erred when it dismissed his notice preliminary objection challenging the appeal’s competence and its jurisdiction to entertain it.

    The senator said the Court of Appeal’s decision was contrary to constitutional provision that an appeal against an interlocutory decision must be filed within 14 days of the decision appealed against, which he said the AGF failed to comply with.

    According to him, the Court of Appeal also erred in failing to see that the AGF had no locus standi to appeal against parts of Justice Okon Abang’s judgment, which were in the interest of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) chairman, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), all of who did not appeal against the adverse decisions.

    Besides, the appellant said the Court of Appeal violated the legal principle that a ground of appeal must arise from the judgment or ruling of the court appealed against.

    He urged the Supreme Court to hold that the Court of Appeal’s decision was contrary to the principle that leave of court must be sought and obtained before appealing in respect of fresh issues that were not canvassed before the trial court.

     

     

     

  • Kashamu loses bid to stop arrest, extradition to US

    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 Nigerian Senate, 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, dissatisfied, the office of 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 arguing 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), 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 Dapo Abiodun and 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.

    Kashamu, however, said that he has no extradition case in court.

    In a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Austin Oniyokor, Kashamu  said the suit referred to in the report was an appeal filed by the Federal Government against a judgment delivered in his favour by the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    “Let me state from the outset that contrary to the wrong impression being created by a section of the media, there isn’t any extradition matter against me in any court in Nigeria or abroad. The illegal move surreptitiously introduced by the powers-that-be after the 2015 abduction plot was exposed has been dismissed. That was in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015. The suit was dismissed on the 1st of July, 2015, for being an abuse of court process. Anything to the contrary is sheer mischief and over sensationalism by some reporters.

  • Kashamu hails Fed Govt on Ikorodu/ Sagamu Road

    The lawmaker representing Ogun East, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has hailed the Federal Government for awarding the contract to rehabilitate Ikorodo-Sagamu Road, which links Lagos State and Ogun State.

    Sagamu, Ogijo, Mosinmi and other communities around that axis fall under Ogun East, which Kashamu represents.

    Rising from its weekly Federal Executive Committee (FEC)  meeting on Wednesday, the Federal Government announced that it has approved N20.845 billion for rehabilitation of the road.

    Kashamu, who on Wednesday took to his Twitter handle @Sen_Kashamu to praise the Federal Government, wrote: “Thanks @ tundefashola for making @MBuhari-led FEC to award the Ikorodu-Shagamu Expressway. I recall the 11th October 2017 letter I sent to your office about the road, which is one of the major roads in my senatorial district. My heart is filled with joy. Kudos!”

    The acknowledged copy of the letter showed it was received at the office of the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing on October 16, 2017.

    The letter reads: “I write regarding the Sagamu-Ogijo Road, a federal road of high economic value, which has suffered years of neglect.

    “The road is a petroleum distribution route and hosts high value installations and industrial plants, such as the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). There are lots of huge man-hour and economic losses due to the deplorable condition of this road; including the unfortunate loss of lives on several occasions.

    “I, however, commend you for listing the road for rehabilitation in this year’s Appropriation Act. I urge you to kindly assist with the full implementation of the rehabilitation of the road due to its national importance. A copy of the relevant page of the Appropriation Act and photographs of some failed sections are herewith attached.”

    Kashamu said the fact that the contract of the road has been awarded based on the provision made for it in the 2017 Appropriation Act shows that if the arms of government work together, the people will be better for it.

  • Kashamu petitions INEC over Ogun PDP exco

    SENATOR representing Ogun East Buruji Kashamu has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Executive Council.

    He wrote the commission against the backdrop of a recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which directed INEC and the PDP to obey an earlier judgment of the court that declared Adebayo Dayo-led State Exco as the authentic leadership of the party in the state.

    In the letter dated March 26, Kashamu questioned why the commission was recalcitrant in keeping to its tradition of obeying court orders and judgments until a superior court says otherwise.

    “The commission’s position with regards to the Ogun State PDP Exco negates its well-known and established tradition of giving effect to court judgments until a superior court says otherwise. INEC had in similar situations as this case taken the path of honour and rectitude as shown in the cases of Chief Ejike Oguebego Vs Prince Kenneth Emeakayi over the Anambra State PDP Exco; Samsom Ogah Vs Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim Vs Eyitayo Jegede, just to mention a few. So, what has changed? Why is the case of Ogun State PDP Exco different?” Kashamu wrote.

    The letter reads: “You would recall that I had written three different letters dated 29th January, 2018, 5th and 12thFebruary, 2018 respectively to you, in respect of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Executive. However, it is surprising that up till date, the commission has not replied any of the letters.

    “The silence, notwithstanding, I am again constrained to write you, particularly to draw your attention to yet another judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which has not be stayed or upturned on appeal.”

    The lawmaker said the latest judgment has been served on the commission’s legal department and wondered why the “the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, is either keeping the judgment away from your office and/or sitting on it”.

    Kashamu contended that the court held that the judgment of the Supreme Court on the national leadership tussle between Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi has nothing to do with the issue of the Ogun State PDP Exco.

    “As you would find in the judgment, the court held that the resolution of a political party in respect of a State Exco cannot vitiate the subsisting judgment of court. It also ruled that the judgment of the Supreme Court in the Ali Modu Sheriff/ Makarfi case has nothing to do with the issue of the Ogun State Exco.

    “So, the ill-advised decision of the commission to recognise some dissidents instead of the authentic and legally-recognised Ogun State PDP Exco has no basis in law and it is antithetical to internal democracy and justice.”

  • Appeal Court reserves judgment in Fed Govt, Kashamu extradition suit

    Appeal Court reserves judgment in Fed Govt, Kashamu extradition suit

    THE Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, yesterday reserved judgment in the Federal Government’s suit seeking to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States (U.S.).

    Buruji, who represents Ogun East, is wanted by the U.S. to stand trial for alleged importation of hard drugs into the country.

    The Federal Government’s appeal followed the judgment of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos and another by Justice Okon Abang of the court’s Abuja division.

    Both judges upheld Kashamu’s claim that no court order was obtained before the move to extradite him was executed.

    The appellant, through its counsel, Mr. Emeka Ngige (SAN), filed an appeal on October 31, 2017.

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

    It 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) and Hakeem O. Afolabi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the AGF’s appeal.

    On January 23, 2017, a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, Illinois, affirmed the ruling of a lower court for Kashamu’s extradition to stand trial for drugs crimes.

  • Appeal Court reserves judgment in FG’s bid to extradite Kashamu to U.S

    Appeal Court reserves judgment in FG’s bid to extradite Kashamu to U.S

    The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Thursday reserved judgment in the Federal Government’s suit seeking to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States.

    A three-man panel led by Justice Joseph Ikhegh reserved judgment after parties adopted their written addressees.

    Buruji, who since represents Ogun East in the Senate, is wanted by the U.S Government to stand trial for alleged importation of hard drugs into the country.

    The federal government’s appeal followed the judgment of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, and another by Justice Okon Abang of the court’s Abuja division, on the matter.

    Both judges dismissed the federal government’s bids to extradite the lawmaker.