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Tag: NDLEA

  • NDLEA applies for Buruji’s extradition to US

    NDLEA applies for Buruji’s extradition to US

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Tuesday that it has served notice of application for extradition of Senator – elect, Kashamu Buruji, to United States.

    The spokesman of NDLEA, Mr Mitchel Ofoyeju, said the notice of the suit was officially served on Kashamu Monday.

    He said the application was secured through the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015.

    Ofoyeju said:” In an application made to the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is seeking the extradition of Buruji Kashamu to answer alleged drug trafficking charges.

    “This is in line with the Extradition Act CAP, E25 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as modified by Extradition Act Modification Order, 2014). The notice of the suit was officially served on Kashamu by the NDLEA on June 1, 2015.

    Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has commended the NDLEA for the bold step taken in the extradition case involving Kashamu.

    The letter of commendation which was signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes,   Jagaba Adams Jagaba, said that the agency’s action will go a long way in building the confidence of the international community in the country.

  • NDLEA arrests housewives with cocaine

    NDLEA arrests housewives with cocaine

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two housewives for ingesting cocaine.

    The women packed cocaine in their underwear and inserted the substance in their vagina.

    They were found with 2.635kg of cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to China.

    Their arrest came few weeks after the Indonesian government executed some four Nigerians for drug trafficking.

    The women in their statements said they took to drug trafficking because their husbands abandoned them.

    The NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, described the suspects as desperate traffickers.

    He said, “These women are curiously desperate for ingesting drugs, packing some on their bodies and inserting in their vagina.

    “The first suspect – Alaka Deburah Uzoma (47) was found with 1.180kg of cocaine. She inserted 260 grammes of cocaine in her private part and ingested 60 wraps weighing 920 grammes.

    “The second suspect – Chukwujekwu Chinyere Priscilla (45) was caught with 1.455kg of cocaine. She packed 59 wraps on her body, inserted one parcel weighing 1.285kg in her vagina and ingested 10 wraps weighing 170 grams. They are both from Anambra State.”

    Priscilla said she wanted to establish herself financially to take care of her children.

    “I am married to a soldier but he abandoned me 10 years ago when he retired from the Army. I got married early because there was no money for me to further my studies after my primary education. My husband who is a retired soldier abandoned me 10 years ago.

    “Since then my life has been sorrowful. I sell female clothes and shoes to take care of my children. I met a man at the market who promised to assist me in my business by making me an importer.

    “This was how we began to talk on phone. He gives me recharge cards and money to sustain myself. It was the day I was to travel that he told me that I will take drugs to China. He took me to a hotel where I was given the drugs and $6,000 to buy my goods in China. I could only swallow 10 wraps, so I forced some in my vagina and packed others in my underwear.”

    Uzoma on her part said her husband abandoned her with seven children.

    “I sell female bags and shoes to sustain myself and my children. My husband left me in 2005 and since then I have been facing several challenges. I took loan to travel to China and in the process I incurred huge debt which compounded my problems.”

  • NDLEA vacates Kashamu’s residence

    NDLEA vacates Kashamu’s residence

    THE agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have vacated the Lagos home of senator-elect Prince Buruji Kashamu, after six days of laying siege to the facility.

    Austin Oniyokor, the media aide to Kashamu said  the NDLEA operatives left at exactly 7:45pm, after a court ordered them to vacate the place.

    Oniyokor in a statement said: “But this was after the agency displayed a high level of brigandage and lawlessness that is only fit for a failed state.

    “However, we thank the almighty God for His infinite mercies. He is the one who thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

    “We also salute the judiciary for once again rising to the occasion and proving yet that it is truly the last hope of the common man and the oppressed. We are grateful that the judiciary has again affirmed Prince Kashamu’s innocence of the charges against him, thus turning for good what was meant for evil.

    “Our appreciation also goes to the media, civil society groups, student bodies and all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers, support and solidarity during the period.”

  • NDLEA maintains presence at Kashamu’s home

    NDLEA maintains presence at Kashamu’s home

    • Protesters, agency barricade neighbourhood
    Despite an order of court directing them to vacate, officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday continued the siege on the Lekki, Lagos home of Senator-elect,  Prince Buruji Kashamu.
    Over 40 armed personnel including hooded men were sighted at different streets leading to Kashamu’s home located at Ladipo Omotesho Cole, by Marwa in Lekki Phase one, depriving residents and passersby their right of way. 
    The fierce looking personnel who turned back reporters despite being presented with identity cards, said they were following orders to restrict movement in and out of the busy street. 
    There was also an altercation between the officials and a man who claimed he was a resident in the neighbourhood. 
    The angry man was seen arguing with the personnel for refusing him to take the normal route to his apartment, despite pointing at his house, which was not far from the barricade.
    Meanwhile, scores of Kashumu’s loyalists barricaded the other end of the road, protesting what they term “the disregard for ruke of law by the enforcement agency”.
    Clad in black and chanting in solidarity for the Senator-elect, the crowd most of whom said they were from Ogun State, decried the continuous siege on Kashamu’s residence despite court ruling and judgment ordering the agency to vacate.
    Their protest further compounded the discomfort of residents and motorists as they completely grounded the only part of the road unmanned by NDLEA officials.
    Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “NDLEA respect the rule of law, Nigeria is not a Banana Republic; release Buruji Kashamu; vacate Kashamu’s house….”, some of the protesters said they were unhappy because the house arrest of the Senator-elect has negatively affected the well being of their families. 
    According to one Foluke Salami, who claimed she was a widow and coordinator of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Ijebu North, they usually received money, drugs and other food items from Kashamu every Thursday.
    She said she was greatly disappointed at the way the law enforcement agency was going about the whole issue, adding that they have not been able to gain access into his residence.
    “Today is Thursday and we are supposed to collect money for our children. Every Thursday we come from Ogun state to collect money from Kashamu. 
    “He takes care of widows and those living with HIV. Since 2005 when I knew my status as person living with HIV, Kashamu has been there for us. I am the coordinator of those living with HIV. He is accessible. He does not stop us from entering the house anytime we come but today, these people did not even allow us close to the house.
    “We are therefore using this medium to protest the continued seige of the NDLEA in his premises, after a court order barring them from staying,” she said.
    At the time The Nation visited (around 2pm), the protesters were threatening to continue their blockage of the other side of the route unless the NDLEA personnel leave their “man”.
    Kashamu’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede who was sighted driving out, disclosed that the operatives denied him access into the premises.
    He told reporters that the over 12 officials stationed inside his client’s compound told him he could not be allowed in.
    He further disclosed that Kashamu’s relatives have also been denied access into the compound,  whereas, all those who live with him have been put in one room and closely watched.
    According to Oluyede, Kashamu has only had liquid since Saturday, May 23, and has not been allowed to see his doctor despite complains of heart palpitation and other health related issues.
    “We do not even know whether the masked men in my client’s bedroom are Nigerians or foreigners. We do not know who they are because they don’t even talk.
    “They record all my conversation with my client on video and audio. And they follow us around with their guns.
    “In the night, they would go on the roof. The family members are traumatised and are trying to adjust and live a semi normal life. All of them are sleeping in one room at night while the masked men watch over them.
    “The Police have been served but I don’t know why they have not intervened to enforce the order of court. The next step is that we are trying to reach the Inpsector-General of Police to find out why he has refused to intervene.
    “I heard him say he had not been served the order of the court. But we have his stamp of receipt that they have received it. The bailiff of the court and my chamber have served them. What then is stopping them?
    “What they (NDLEA) are doing is illegal. What the chairman of NDLEA is doing is illegal. NDLEA is a statutory office and he can’t refuse to obey the court. If he says he will not obey the order of the court, it is like saying he does not recognise the office of the NDLEA.
    “This is a criminal contempt of court. Why is the Police watching? If someone is saying that the order of the court is inconsequential such person should be arrested immediately. 
    “What about the DSS, are they not worried that this could lead to a coup de etat? It is the police that will enforce the court warrant of arrest, not the NDLEA. 
    “Extradition is not the business of the NDLEA but that of the court. If the court says vacate, it should be respected. The court said come to court with the warrant of arrest, only the Attorney-General came but the NDLEA did not. They drove the bailiff away thrice…
    “We are taking legal steps because we cannot carry arms and wage war against them. We do not have control of arms and cannot dislodge them. We are trying to put pressure on the IGP to enforce the court order,” said Oluyede.
  • ‘NDLEA ‘ll obey court’s order’

    ‘NDLEA ‘ll obey court’s order’

    THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it will obey the decision of the court of competent jurisdiction on the ongoing case involving senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu.

    The spokesman of the agency, Mr. Mitchel  Ofoyeju, said yesterday that the NDLEA, as a government agency and a law enforcement institution that has respect for the rule of law, will abide by the decisions of a competent court.

     “This is a legal issue and the agency has windows of opportunities to explore legally in advancing its course. NDLEA will not violate court orders or take law into its hands in enforcing its statutory responsibilities.

    The media shall be duly informed of further developments,” he said.

  • Court orders NDLEA to vacate Kashamu’s residence

    Court orders NDLEA to vacate Kashamu’s residence

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to vacate the residence of Senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu.

    The order was made in a bench ruling delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba, in a contempt proceedings filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke and Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade.

    Justice Buba also directed the police to ensure that all the orders are obeyed by the respondents, while reinstating the need for Giade to appear before him on June 4.

    Kashamu through his lawyers, Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Ajibola Oluyede had approached the court following the siege on his home since May 23, by officials of the NDLEA.

    Although the applicant had filed a Motion Ex-parte, the court on Monday refused to entertain it and directed that the respondents be put on notice to appear before it on Tuesday.

    While the AGF was represented by Anne Akwiwu at the resumed hearing, the NDLEA Chairman failed to appear in court.

    When the matter was called up, Akwiwu prayed the court for an adjournment to enable them reply to the originating motion on notice for committal filed against the AGF.

    She stated that they were present put of respect for the court, noting that they were not ready because they were yet to regularise their standing.

    Her prayer for adjournment prompted Izinyon to make an oral application seeking four orders in line with the urgency of the matter.

    Izinyon urged the court to grant an order asking the over 50 personnel of the NDLEA who have laid siege on Kashamu’s residence since May 23, to leave the place forthwith.

    He prayed for an order that any application for arrest warrant against Kashamu must be brought before Justice Buba, since he is in charge of the case.

    Kashamu’s lawyer also prayed for an order allowing them to publish the court’s ruling in the newspaper as a notice to NDLEA Chairman, since the Court’s Bailiff could not effect personal service on Giade.

     

  • Court declines Kashamu’s request against NDLEA

    Court declines Kashamu’s request against NDLEA

    The Federal High Court stting in Lagos yesterday declined to restrain the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from arresting Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba made the order consequent upon an ex-parte order brought by Kashamu’s lawyer Ajibola Oluyede.

    Kashamu is a financier of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest. The United States said he has a pending case of heroine trafficking dating back to 1994 to answer, but he insists he is innocent.

    Following the extradition request from the U.S., the NDLEA operatives stormed Kashamu’s residence in Lekki, Lagos on Saturday.

    The siege was still on as at yesterday.

    The NDLEA, in a statement yesterday by its spokesman Mitchel Ofoyeju, said the Ogun-East Senator-elect, “failed to appear in court from his house where he is being closely monitored by operatives of the NDLEA.”

    He added that “the Agency is working hard to ensure that he submits himself to the due process of the law. His house remained 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.

    “The 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.”

    Justice Buba yesterday also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke and Chairman NDLEA Ahmadu Giade to appear before him today to explain why they should not be held for contempt for ‘invading’ Kashamu’s residence.

    In an in-chamber ruling, the court declined to entertain the ex-parte motion and ordered Kashamu to put Adoke and Giade on notice to appear before him in order to be heard.

    He ruled that the order was in view of the urgent nature of the matter and in light of subsisting judgment and court orders.

    “In view of the urgent nature of this matter, and in light of subsisting judgment and court orders, instead of hearing an ex-parte application, the respondents are ordered to be put on notice to appear in court on May 26, at 12pm in order to be heard.

    “And in view of subsisting judgment and court orders,  time be and is hereby abridged for the respondents to appear. This order and the motion on notice shall be served unfailingly,” the order stated.

    In a Motion on Notice for committal brought pursuant to order 35 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, Oluyede had prayed the court to rule that the respondents are in criminal contempt of court for obstructing justice by the willful violation of a court judgment dated January 6, 2014.

    He prayed the court to declare that the invasion, destruction of property, harassment, humiliation, arrest and detention of Kashamu by NDLEA at the instance of the AGF since Saturday, as well as any extradition proceedings commenced thereupon, constitute criminal contempt in view of the said judgment and another pending ruling before the Federal High Court.

    Oluyede prayed a declaration that the actions of the respondents are illegal, null and void, praying the court for an order directing the immediate and unconditional release of Kashamu within two hours of the pronouncement, just as he urged the court for a restraining order against the respondents from further intimidating, harassing, laying siege or confiscating any of Kashamu’s properties.

    He accused Giade of plot to preempt the judicial process by deploying about 50 fully armed NDLEA officials, pursuant to the verbal instruction of the AGF,  to invade Kashamu’s home around 4am on May 23.

    The lawyer claimed that the Senator-elect’s residence was burgled by the men who put him under house arrest.

    “They broke his gate, doors, windows to gain entrance. Destroyed properties, harassed infant children and his pregnant wife,  humiliated the applicant at gun point, arrested and detained him in his house after attempts to forcibly ship him off to the US truncated by media exposure”.

    Oluyede said his client decided to file a committal charge after NDLEA failed to bring Kashamu in court as they earlier promised.

    He accused the agency of not having any arrest warrant, just as he claimed that the NDLEA had filed no application before any court before unlawfully invading his client’s home.

    “Extradition procedure requires submission of the request to the court for the court to go through and exercise its discretion whether or not, the person being requested should be extradited. That is what will give us confidence that lawful duty is being carried out.

    “In this case, no warrant was shown.  They don’t have any warrant for arrest. Go to the registry now, you will see a gentleman from NDLEA filing application for a provisional warrant of arrest. That is to show you that they do not have any extradition order,” said Oluyede.

    Kashamu’s supporters invaded the court premises protesting the siege to his residence.

    Some of the inscriptions include: “UK court discharged him; Illegal extradition; Kashamu’s life is being threatened; We want due process followed; It is high time we stopped illegality; Kashamu’s arrest is a slap to human rights.”

    The protesters who said they came from Ijebu-Igbo decried the ‘persecution’ of their Senator-elect,  calling on the authorities to leave him alone.

    Former Ogun State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary, Yemi Akinwunmi who spoke on behalf of the protesters said Kashamu brightened their hope and saved the party from complete death in the state.

    “In the process of liberating us, making us relevant in the politics of Nigeria, he stepped on one or two toes. They are the ones now on him, not America.”

     

  • Kashamu fails to appear in court

    Kashamu fails to appear in court

    Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, who has been placed under house arrest over a drug related crime, failed to appear in court on Monday

    Kashamu is being closely monitored by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in his Lekki, Lagos, home.

    The Head, Public Affairs of NDLEA, Mr.  Ofoyeju Mitchell, said, the agency is working hard to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain submits himself to the due process of the law.

    According to Mitchell, the extradition move initiated by the NDLEA for Kashamu to answer drug trafficking charges in the United States, 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,” the NDLEA spokesman said.

     

  • NDLEA to Kashamu: stop the blame game

    NDLEA to Kashamu: stop the blame game

    •Ogun APC hails agency 

    All was calm yesterday at the Lekki, Lagos home of  Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu.

    But the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agecncy (NDLEA) operatives maintained their presence, keeping vigil to ensure that the politician,  who is holed up inside his home, did not slip away.

    The House was stormed by the operatives on Saturday but the politician remained indoors, refusing to surrender himself.

    The agency is expected to approach the court today for an order or a warant to enable it effect the arrest of the politician. An extradition request has been sent to the Federal Government by the United States (U.S.).

    The U.S. claims he has a drug related case to answer, but the Ogun State senator-elect insists he is innocent.

    The NDLEA yesterday advised him to concentrate on the facts of his case rather than blaming former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olabode George for his problem.

    Its Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Ofoyeju Mitchell, who said this yesterday, explained that the agency has so far been acting on the side of the law concerning Kashamu’s extradition.

    According to official report, Kashamu has been on the wanted list of both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    Kashamu was indicted in the Northern District of Illinois, United States on charges brought against him by ICE.

    According to U.S. court documents, Kashamu was accused of being the leader of a prolific heroin trafficking ring based in Chicago, Illinois. He was then known as “God”, “Daddy” and “Kasmal”.

    He is wanted to stand trial on charges of conspiracy and importation of controlled substances, namely heroin, into the U.S. dating back to 1994.

    Kashamu, who holds dual Nigerian/Beninese citizenship, has taken multiple preemptive actions to thwart U.S. extradition efforts such as making claims that he was a victim of mistaken identity, and that his deceased brother was responsible for the crimes he was being sought after in the U.S.

    He has filed injunctions at federal courts in the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. and in Nigeria to prevent his arrest and prosecution.

    “These are issues that Kashamu should prepare to address rather than point accusing fingers at eminent elder statesmen who have no connection with the ongoing investigative process. The senator, who was placed on house arrest at the weekend, is expected to appear in court in less than 24 hours.

    “We expect Kashamu as a distinguished senator-elect to demonstrate ample confidence in the Nigerian judicial system and stop the blame game,” NDLEA said.

    The Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed moves by the NDLEA to extradite Kashamu to the U.S.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sola Lawal, the party said the NDLEA has lived up to the integrity and impartiality, which it is expected to uphold.

    The party, while distancing the people of the state from the person and character of the accused, said: “People should not mistake the person of Buruji Kashamu, who won election in the state, as what our people stand for.

    “They have always been people of dignity, integrity and transparency. The qualities inherent in Ogun State people had led to many firsts in diverse areas of endeavour.

    “The emergence of Kashamu in Ogun politics, therefore, is only a pointer to the decadence that eats up the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced him. No doubt, in a more civilised and politically correct socio-political environment, such an individual would not have become a candidate of a right-thinking party, how much more winning an election.”

  • NDLEA arraigns man for drug trafficking

    A 31-year-old medicine hawker, Monday Okorie, who allegedly dealt in different types of psychotropic drugs, was yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) preferred a three-count charge of drug peddling against Okorie, who resides on Oniwaya Road in Agege, Lagos.

    The Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, a lawyer with the NDLEA, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 19 at his apartment.

    He said the accused unlawfully had in his possession 60 kg of Tramadol, 2.4 kg of Diazepam and 800 grammes of Rohypnol, psychotropic drugs similar to cocaine and heroin.

    According to him, the accused sold the harmful drugs to unsuspecting members of the public.

    The offence, Aernan said, contravenes Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation.

    The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending trial.

    The accused pleaded not guilty and his counsel, Mr G. U. Okaka, urged the court to grant him bail.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke will rule on the bail application tomorrow.