Drug offence: Court gives nod for Kashamu’s extradition

Stanley Nwanekezie May 4, 2018

83 1 minute read

A serving senator, Prince Buruji Kashamu can now be extradited to the United States of America (USA) to face trial in a drug related offence, following the declaration of the Court of Appeal.

The appellate court in its judgment on Friday, set aside all orders made by a federal high court between 2014 and 2017, restraining the government from proceeding with the extradition.

Delivering judgment in an appeal filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Justice Joseph Ikyeghi held that the orders granted Kashamu by Justice Okon Abang were “invalid, nonsensical and unacceptable to laws” because they were based on hearsays and speculations by Senator Kashamu.

The unanimous judgment was prepared by Justice Ikyeghi and was delivered by Justice Yargala Nimpar.

The court held that the hearsay that a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was instigating the extradition was not established under any law.

The appeal court said that an affidavit deposed to by the senator on the issue was worthless and not in compliance with evidence act because the senator himself claimed that he was told by several persons who were not called to testify in court.

Justice Ikyeghi held that Justice Abang in his two judgments on the issue erred in law by playing undue reliance on affidavit that offended evidence act to give judgment against the Federal government.

Consequently, the order of injunction stopping the extraction process was voided and set aside.

Another order which terminated the extradition process in the second judgment of Justice Abang was also set aside, having been issued in error by the Federal high court.