Senate Cautions NDLEA against Buruji’s Illegal Arrest

“This matter is before the senate and we think status quo should remain until we look at the issues in the petition and come up with a position.” – Anyanwu

NDLEA boss, Muhammed Abdallah

The Senate Committee on Wednesday cautioned National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against any act of illegality that could lead to the abduction and extradition of Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States of America.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Sam Anyawu gave the directive while treating a petition forwarded to it by the Senator, who appeared physically at the venue in company with his lawyer.

 Senate’s decision was sequel to a petition forwarded to its committee by Senator Kashamu’ lawyer Ajibola Oluyede over planned abduction of the embattled senator by the agency.

Reacting to the petition, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said asked the NDLEA to maintain status quo on the issue pending the outcome of his panel’s investigation.

“It is obvious that when we make our investigation we will put down our report to the entire senate. We have to invite the parties involved and not in representative capacity to answer to the allegations.”

He said the allegation was against the Former Chairman of the agency, Ahmadu Gyade and that he was equally going to be affected by whatever decision that the senate will arrive at, hence the need to also hear from him.

He said, “This matter is before the senate and we think status quo should remain until we look at the issues in the petition and come up with a position.”

Anyanwu said that the Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Muhammed Abdallah, sent a representative but wrote that since the matter was in the Appeal Court, she should be excused from the matter.

He also said that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, had requested to appear before the committee  between 9th and 12th of February while Gyade asked for more time to prepare and submit 12 copies of  the written presentation before the committee.         

Kashamu’s lawyer who addressed the panel said, “Recently again it came to our attention that there was moves again, not to extradite him, but as we know, the United States government has a policy of rendition; rendition is forbidden by international law. 

“It is also even a criminal Act under the US law but the US government does it and the Supreme Court of United states more or less allow it by saying that well if you come to our country illegally, it doesn’t matter to us, so long as you are here, we have jurisdiction over you and we will try you on any offence for which you are brought here.

“So on that basis the American security agencies often kidnap people and take them to the US to face what they call justice. Most of the time they have only done it in what they call enemy territory and only against terrorists.

“We have had only one instance in Nigeria where they have done rendition and that is against a motor dealer here, Lanre Shittu, who was carried suddenly and exported to United States.

“Now this is what is being planned currently against  Senator Kashamu and we have it on very good authority and you will see we have quoted from  an agent of the NDLEA, a sympathetic agent, he was even among those who  were sitting in his bedroom with guns and  wearing masks for six days.

“There are some of them who are giving us information and till today, there are still people in the NDLEA who have conscience. When they see any bad thing going on they want to be whistle blowers but we know there is a problem with being a whistle blower in Nigeria.”

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