Politics
EXTRADITION: Judge angered by repetition of Kashamu’s case
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday expressed anger over what he described as repetition of an extradition case involving Sen Kashamu Buruji.
The suit is seeking to stop the Federal Government form extraditing him to the U.S. to face trial in an alleged hard drugs case.
Abang claimed to have given judgment in two suits in 2015 brought before him by Kashamu.
He threatened to opt out of the fresh suit, filed in 2018, if it is related to the same extradition matter.
Abang’s reaction came after an observation by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Joseph Sunday that the judge had in 2015 delivered two judgments on the same issue.
Read also: KADUNA GOV’SHIP POLL: Court to decide El’rufai’s fate July 3
According to Sunday, the two judgments of the high court had been set aside by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on grounds that the appeal on them had been filed at the Supreme Court.
He, however, commended the judge for raising the issue of propriety by him to adjudicate on the two fresh suits, filed by Kashamu in 2018.
He pleaded to the court to take notice that similar extradition matters by the plaintiff had been decided.
Meanwhile, Counsel to Kashamu Ifeoma Esson, insisted that her client’s fresh suit was not related to the issue that brought about the 2015 judgments.
Esson explained that the current suit was predicated on the unlawful invasion and siege laid on her client’s house for six days by operatives of the NDLEA.
Esson specifically told the court that her client was challenging the violation of his fundamental rights to dignity of person and freedom of movement.
She urged the court to go ahead with hearing of the new suits.
Kashamu had in the second suit marked FHC/ABJ/CF/530/2018, sued the Attorney General of the Federation and the NDLEA.
He prayed the court to prohibit the two respondents from extraditing him to the U.S. to face trial in the alleged hard drugs offence.
Kashamu applied for an order of the court to also stop the two respondents from giving effect to the extradition request by the U.S.
However, in a brief ruling, the judge adjourned hearing of the substantive matter till Sept. 30, on grounds that the court would go on annual vacation by July 8.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...