A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed a date for its ruling on an application by the Federal Government seeking a warrant to alleged drug lord, Senator Buruji Kashamu representing Ogun-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
According to the Daily Independent, Justice Gabriel Kolawole in a short ruling said he would decide on July 1st 2015 if there was a good basis for the commencement of the extradition proceedings against Kashamu.
During a hearing on Thursday, counsel to the Federal Government, M. S. Hassan, begged the court to issue a bench warrant to Kashamu to appear in court in person to defend himself.
However Kashamu’s counsel, Oluyede, who held a brief with Alex Izinyon (SAN), prayed the court dismisses the case claiming Justices Ibrahim Buba and O.E. Abba of the Federal High Court, Lagos struck out a similar suit.
Hassan however replied by asking the court to dismiss the defense’s claims saying that Federal High Court in Lagos had no supervisory jurisdiction over the one in Abuja.
Hassan added that the extradition process had not been initiated when the Lagos court ruled pointing out that a court of coordinate jurisdiction could nullify an order made in error by another court.
If Kashamu is found extradicted, tried and found guilty in the United States of America, he could face a prison sentence of not more than than 10 years or a fine of up to $10 million in the case of an individual, or both.
It should however be noted that Lagos Federal High Court judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, on Tuesday, June 23, rejected the application filed by Kashamu through his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, to imprison the chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ahmed Giade.
During a hearing on Thursday, counsel to the Federal Government, M. S. Hassan, begged the court to issue a bench warrant to Kashamu to appear in court in person to defend himself.
However Kashamu’s counsel, Oluyede, who held a brief with Alex Izinyon (SAN), prayed the court dismisses the case claiming Justices Ibrahim Buba and O.E. Abba of the Federal High Court, Lagos struck out a similar suit.
Hassan however replied by asking the court to dismiss the defense’s claims saying that Federal High Court in Lagos had no supervisory jurisdiction over the one in Abuja.
Hassan added that the extradition process had not been initiated when the Lagos court ruled pointing out that a court of coordinate jurisdiction could nullify an order made in error by another court.
If Kashamu is found extradicted, tried and found guilty in the United States of America, he could face a prison sentence of not more than than 10 years or a fine of up to $10 million in the case of an individual, or both.
It should however be noted that Lagos Federal High Court judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, on Tuesday, June 23, rejected the application filed by Kashamu through his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, to imprison the chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ahmed Giade.
