Why the US government is after “Ogun State newest political Godfather” Buruji Kashamu?
The controversy whether or not millionaire politician, self acclaimed philanthropist snd Nigeria’s newest “Godfather”, Alhaji Buruji Kashamu is a drug baron and fugitive from the United States law has been on in the Nigerian press for the past few months. A section of the Nigerian media had reported late year that that Alhaji Kashamu’s name came up in a recent Court ruling dated September 25, 2009 by Judge Charles R. Norgle of the United States District Court in Chicago, Illinois in which the Judge upheld Kashamu’s indictment by the U.S government on drug trafficking charges and conspiracy to smuggle heroin into the country. Kashamu was described by the U.S government as the kingpin of the drug cartel.
In quick response, Kashamu published several rebuttals in the newspapers and alleged that he was not the one being sought after by the United States Government, but that the alleged crime was committed by one of his brother who is now late. Kashamu, in his defense, also claims that he had been cleared by a British Court and produced what purports to be the decision of a Magistrate Court in England. Kashamu also referred to his recent issuance of German visa sequel to his clearance by international security agencies as a further proof that he is not a fugitive and that the U.S may have been looking for a wrong person.
However, from Saharareporters’s investigation, it appears that the matter is far from being over as the United States government insists that the man the U.S government is looking for is no other person than Buruji Kashamu, not his brother and that the government of the U.S still regards Buruji Kashamu as a drug kingpin and a fugitive from the United States law. The U.S further states that it has never withdrawn its warrant of arrest against Kashamu maintaining further that the charges as to Kashamu remains pending and will request for his extradition from Nigeria in due course.
The United States Government has also accused Buruji Kashamu of using fraudulent means to obtain a German Visa in 2009. The U.S government notes in its brief that Kashamu communicated with German officials using the name “Buruji Kashamu Shodipe” instead of Buruji Kashamu. According to the U.S government, Kashamu was indicted in the United States under the name “Buruji Kashamu” and the warrant of arrest against him was issued in that same name. It is the position of the U.S that any confusion by German officials that led to the issuance of a Schengen visa to Kashamu may have been caused by Kashamu’s use of the surname “Shodipe” in his application and communications with the German consulate.
Saharareporters investigation has revealed that there is indeed, a pending criminal action against Mr. Buruji before the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois involving fifteen people. The Case 1:94-cr-00172 is before Hon. Judge Charles R. Norgle. While Kashamu’s other coconspirators had been jailed, Kashamu’s case is being held under the fugitive Calendar.
Kashamu Buruji
Curiously, however, in February, 2009, Kashamu hired a team of lawyers to appear for him in the case for the purpose of filing a Motion requesting the Court to quash the arrest warrant which his lawyers led by Pravin B. Rao did.
In the Motion to quash the arrest warrant, Mr. Pravin Rao made copious reference to the United Kingdom’s extradition proceedings in which Kashamu was freed after spending five years in British jail. His lawyers also pled res judicata and argued that the U.K decisions are final and should therefore, be binding on the U.S.
In its response, the United States government disagreed with Kashamu on all fours and argued that Kashamu’s Motion to quash arrest warrant should be denied by the Court. On September, 25, 2009, the District Court Judge upheld the U.S position and denied Kashamu’s Motion to quash his arrest warrant. The judge also declared Buruji Kashamu a fugitive.
However, Kahamu’s lawyers have filed another Motion praying the Court to reconsider its decision of September 25, 2009. The response of the U.S government is still being awaited to the Motion but according to the Department of Justice, the U.S government would file a response to the motion because Buruji Kashamu has raised fundamental questions in his motion which the U.S would like to respond to.
The Position of the U.S Government on Buruji Kashamu
In this report, Saharareporters have obtained a copy of the United States Government’s position on the status of Kashamu Buruji which the Department of Justice filed court in response to Kashamu’s Motion to quash arrest warrant. For avoidance of doubt, Saharareporters has produced the full legal position of the United States position in order to shed more light into the genesis of this decades old case and exposed the real issues involved.
US government’s response to defendant Kashamu’s motion to quash warrant and to dismiss indictment
Defendant Buruji Kashamu, a fugitive, has moved to quash the arrest warrant and to dismiss the charges in the Second Superseding Indictment against him based on findings made in an extradition proceeding. Kashamu’s motion should be denied because principles of res judicata do not apply to extradition proceedings and the government may initiate multiple extradition proceedings against Kashamu in an effort to secure Kashamu’s appearance in this case
saharareporters
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