The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Tuesday said the House of Representatives has commended the Agency for the bold step taken in the extradition case involving a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, who is wanted in the United States of America on charges bordering on drug trafficking.
According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, the letter of commendation, signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, said the Agency’s action would go a long way in building the confidence of the international community in Nigeria.
This was even as Ofoyeju revealed that a notice of application for the extradition of Kashamu to the United States had also been served on the senator-elect.
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 1st of June 2015.”
The image maker noted that Jagaba, while commending the gallantry of officers and men of the anti-narcotic agency, observed that the action of the NDLEA has sent a strong signal that Nigeria believes in the rule of law.
Jagaba reportedly said: “This action has sounded a warning that no longer shall any Nigerian be considered to be above the law, no matter how highly placed. It equally points to the fact that no matter how long it takes, the law would catch up with all that has a case to answer. The Agency has shown that it can work without discrimination.”
The letter further charged the Agency not to succumb to blackmail.
Jagaba added: “Let me encourage you not to falter in the face of blackmail. Your distractors will engage in all forms of antics including blackmail to distract you but you must never be deterred. Instead, with every form of distraction, you should be spurred to maintain the dignity of the Agency and do the needful in the interest of Nigerians and humanity.”
