Appeal Court reserves ruling on Kashamu’s extradition

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has reserved judgment in
the appeal filed by the Federal Government seeking the extradition
of the senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, to the
United States of America.

The Federal Government claimed to have received a request by the
US Government to deliver Kashamu up for prosecution for his alleged
role in an illicit drug deal in the US.

But Kashamu had, in 2015, secured two separate judgments by
Justices Okon Abang and Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court
restraining the Federal Government from delivering the senator to
the US.

But the Attorney General of the Federation approached the Court
of Appeal seeking to overturn the judgments of Justices Abang and
Buba, to pave the way for Kashamu’s extradition.

Counsel for the AGF, Emeka Ngige (SAN), told the appellate court
on Thursday that Kashamu concealed material facts before Justices
Abang and Buba, where he obtained restraining orders against the
Federal Government.

According to him, Kashamu’s suits, which were decided by
Justices Abang and Buba, were based on mere hearsay, contending
that the two lower court judges miscarried justice.

He claimed that Justices Abang and Buba failed to evaluate the
documentary evidence placed before them before giving their
verdicts.

Ngige urged the three-man Appeal Court panel, presided over by
Justice Joseph Ikhegh, to overturn the two judgments and give force
to Kashamu’s extradition.

But he was opposed by Kashamu’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN),
who insisted that the decisions by the high court judges were in
order.

Fagbemi urged the court to dismiss the Federal Government’s
appeal.

The court, after the parties had argued and adopted their
written addresses, reserved judgment in the appeal till a date to
be communicated to the parties.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has reserved judgment in
the appeal filed by the Federal Government seeking the extradition
of the senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, to the
United States of America.

The Federal Government claimed to have received a request by the
US Government to deliver Kashamu up for prosecution for his alleged
role in an illicit drug deal in the US.

But Kashamu had, in 2015, secured two separate judgments by
Justices Okon Abang and Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court
restraining the Federal Government from delivering the senator to
the US.

But the Attorney General of the Federation approached the Court
of Appeal seeking to overturn the judgments of Justices Abang and
Buba, to pave the way for Kashamu’s extradition.

Counsel for the AGF, Emeka Ngige (SAN), told the appellate court
on Thursday that Kashamu concealed material facts before Justices
Abang and Buba, where he obtained restraining orders against the
Federal Government.

According to him, Kashamu’s suits, which were decided by
Justices Abang and Buba, were based on mere hearsay, contending
that the two lower court judges miscarried justice.

He claimed that Justices Abang and Buba failed to evaluate the
documentary evidence placed before them before giving their
verdicts.

Ngige urged the three-man Appeal Court panel, presided over by
Justice Joseph Ikhegh, to overturn the two judgments and give force
to Kashamu’s extradition.

But he was opposed by Kashamu’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN),
who insisted that the decisions by the high court judges were in
order.

Fagbemi urged the court to dismiss the Federal Government’s
appeal.

The court, after the parties had argued and adopted their
written addresses, reserved judgment in the appeal till a date to
be communicated to the parties.