A non-governmental social justice advocacy organization, Justice Watch (Group of Nigeria), has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over the arrest of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, indicted in the United States for drug trafficking.
In a statement in Lagos on Monday, signed by its Chairman, Dr. Modele Arise, the group said it aligned itself with the position of eminent Nigerians and lawyers, including Femi Falana (SAN), that Nigeria can no longer provide a safe haven for people who are indicted for committing crimes in foreign countries, most especially countries to which Nigeria has a legal obligation under existing extradition treaty.
Arise said in the statement: “Nigeria is bound to obey the Extradition Act, Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which arose from the treaty between the United States of America and Britain on June 24, 1935 and which Nigeria voluntarily adopted in 1960 after independence from Britain.”
While noting that the order of the Federal High Court that Buruji, aka Eso Jinadu, should not be extradited has been set aside by the Court of Appeal on the basis that at the time of filing the action there was no request in existence by the American Government for his (Buruji’s) extradition, the group observed that Eso Jinadu has been “court shopping” for orders in a flagrant abuse of court process “for which we have had cause to petition the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in our letter dated 5th of May, 2015”.
Justice Watch said it is following the Kashamu’s saga with keen interest.
It said: “Nigeria must not only keep to international treaties as a responsible citizen of the world and a leading light in the African Union, we must ensure that indicted and wanted people and other criminals alike can no longer hide under political office to escape from justice.”
The group emphasized that the action filed by Buruji and pending before Justice Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos has nothing to do with the lawful request for extradition of Buruji because the action was instituted by Buruji against what he claims was a foreseen attempt to unlawfully extradite him.
