The Senate, through its one of the busiest and revered Committees, Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by the erudite and distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu representing Imo East gave audience to solicitor defending Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu who is representing Ogun East senatorial district. Mr. Ajibola Oloyede the solicitor to the distinguished Senator said whistleblowers have to be protected to succeed in the corruption fight of this new government in Nigeria. In other climes whistle-blowers are given a pride of place as they are the ones that oil the engine of justice and expose internal conspiracy. According to Mr Ajibola Oloyede the Solicitor to distinguished Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu, he praised the effort of whistleblower in alerting them on the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s invasion of Senator Kashamu’s apartment.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided his Lagos residence and attempted to abduct him for extradition to the United States. However, Senator Kashamu stalled their attempt by hiding in his bathroom, the law court however forced NDLEA agents from the premises. The NDLEA have never been able to provide evidence or warrant to show that they possess the right under law to enter the Senator’s home lawfully.
The Solicitor urged the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to look at the case in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and allow justice to prevail.
It will be recalled that several rulings have dismissed any charges against the Senator and have indeed exonerated him of the charges. The Solicitor said “federal courts have exonerated him and no reason to extradite him because he is not a fugitive” Justice Ibrahim Buba and O.E. Abang had ruled that Senator Kashamu could not be extradited under these circumstances. Also Justice Gabriel Kolawole finally dismissed the NDLEA and Attorney General’s attempt to extradite Kashamu because it was an abuse of the court process.
Justice Kolawole said, “the suit was initiated in flagrant abuse of and disobedience to the orders made by Justices Abang and Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which have extinguished the current action by the applicant.”
“Therefore, to accede to the applicant’s request would be against the legal concept of judicial precedences and res judicata.”
“This suit is, hereby, dismissed, with no orders made as to cost against the applicant.”
The Senate’s ethics and privileges committee noted that Senator Kashamu is averse to a certain public servant somewhere who is not following the legal status of the matter.
Senator Buruji Kashamu has been doing his genuine and lawful business since 2003 until his foray into the murky waters of politics. And as soon as he dabbled into politics his travails started raising its ugly heads. Senator Buruji Kashamu has helped numerous people as a grassroot mobilizer. He was more or less a votary, his devotion to his political party was second to none. Senator Kashamu is a diligent and courageous man who simply believes that God (Allah) will vindicate him.
