The Federal Government, Friday, faulted claims that two United Kingdom courts exonerated the Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu, of complicity in illicit drug crime, insisting that the claim was not only untrue, but also misleading.
It will be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, had in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, insisted that from inquiry it made to the UK government, the reply it got was that Kashamu had been prosecuted before a London court, which found nothing against him (Kashamu).
Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, in a contempt charge filed by Kashamu over alleged disobedience of court order, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, said the claim that UK courts exonerated him, was aimed at achieving sinister motive.
Speaking with newsmen at the Federal High Court in Lagos after the matter was adjourned, Ngige said contrary to widespread belief, Kashamu, was not exonerated by the British courts.
He said that Kashamu was not tried in the United Kingdom over the drug crime, but only faced extradition proceedings.
“You see, that is the misleading aspect of the whole thing. Kashamu was not tried before the British Courts. He only went through extradition proceeding and the extradition application failed based on the fact before the court.
“Now, that does not and cannot constitute a bar on further extradition proceeding or trial for drug crime in any other country or other court,” Ngige said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appealed the judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang on May 27, 2015 upholding the fundamental human rights enforcement suit by Kashamu, quashing the extradition proceedings initiated against Kashamu by the AGF and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
The government also appealed another order issued on June 8, 2015 by Justice Ibrahim Buba also of the Federal High Court in Lagos restraining the NDLEA from taking further steps on Kashamu’s extradition to the United States pending the hearing and determination of his contempt application against AGF and NDLEA boss.
