Run Buruji Kashamu, run while you still can

monjola sotubo

May 7, 2015 2:19 PM

The Ogun State Senator-elect has begged a Federal High Court to keep him from getting extradited to the US to face alleged drug charges.

Buruji Kashamu

Buruji Kashamu is afraid, and he should be.

The Ogun State Senator-elect has begged a Federal High Courto keep him from getting extradited to the US to face alleged drug charges.

In his lawsuit, he joined every security agency under the Nigerian sun and even Interpol.

The defendants in the case, marked FHC/L/CS/505/15, are Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the director of the Department of Security Services (DSS), Interpol and the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Others are the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Nigeria Customs Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

He also accused former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, his arch-enemy, of plotting to abduct him and illegally extradite him with the aid of US security agencies.

Buruji Kashamu is very afraid.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain was accused of drug dealing and allegedly indicted in Chicago in 1998.

He is also said to be the famed “Alhaji" whose drug escapades inspired the Netflix hit series “Orange is the new black."

Kashamu has vehemently denied the allegations and in an earlier defence claimed that his dead brother, Alhaji Adewale Adeshina Kashamu, was the one involved in the drug ring.

Whatever be the case, the US wants Kashamu and what the US wants, it usually gets.

Also working against the Senator-elect is the fact that there's a pending extradition request against him (granted by a Federal High Court in 2013 and upheld by the Court of Appeal) which was reportedly ignored by his supposed ally and fellow party member, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan will be vacating his office in less than a month for President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to take over and this is the major reason why Kashamu's continued presence in the country is very surprising.

Buhari is not known for playing games and while this is a democracy, Kashamu is not likely to get any protection from the incoming President.

Also, Jonathan's woeful defeat in the recently conducted general elections has shown that Obasanjo is a dangerous foe to have.

It has become glaringly obvious that there is no longer any hiding place for Kashamu so it would be in his best interests to pack his bags and flee but in Nigeria's best interests for him to stay and face the music.

Whichever step Kashamu takes, it would be a relief to be free from the kind of shady politics he embodies.

Run Buruji Kashamu, run while you still can.

monjola sotubo