NDLEA Defies Court Order to Stand Down Siege against Kashamu
Opeyemi Oladunjoye
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has disobeyed a Federal High Court order to vacate the premises of Senator elect, Buruji Kashamu, and relieve him of the house arrest he has been placed under since Saturday.
The agency which is acting in response to a extradition request by the US, where Kashamu is wanted for drug related offences, released a statement on Tuesday, signed by its spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, stating that the action is within the confine of the law.
The statement read: “The NDLEA does not believe that any court will issue an order preventing a government agency from performing its statutory responsibilities in a lawful manner. The agency has therefore refused to be distracted and will continue to maintain presence at the residence.
“It is advisable that Kashamu respects the law by submitting himself to the due process of the law. The NDLEA wishes to reiterate that his rights like that of other citizens shall be respected and the due process of law followed in this case. The agency is prepared to further increase her public rating and goodwill in the areas of suspect handling, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
“We are prepared to explore all legal means in handling this case to a logical conclusion. According to official record, Kashamu has been a target of both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for over 20 years and was further indicted by the Grand Jury in the Northern District of Illinois, United States on heroin trafficking charges.”
