Ogun State Senator-Elect Kashamu Placed Under House Arrest Pending Extradition Proceedings

Ogun State senator-elect Buruji Kashamu, has been placed under house arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) pending his appearance in court on Monday for extradition proceedings.

NDLEA officials reportedly stormed his Lekki home around about 5 a.m on Saturday, and are still there as of the time of this report.

Kashamu, 56, was indicted by a grand jury in Illinois in 1998, for conspiracy to import and distribute heroin, International Business Times reports. At the time, he denied being responsible for the crime, claiming that it was a case of mistaken identity, and that it was his brother who was the leader of the drug ring in question.

Ever since then Kashamu became an influential political leader in Nigeria, and was elected a senator in the recently concluded elections.

The embattled senator has decried the NDLEA’s decision to place him under house arrest, stating that it is an illegal act. However, the agency has dismissed his claims, stating that the operation is in line with the legal process of extradition, Channels reports.

Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA’s Chairman said, “The Agency has commenced extradition procedures against Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, in line with the laws of country. He has been in contact with his attorneys and will appear in court on Monday.”

Reports by IBT state Kashamu and his drug ring are the inspiration behind Emmy-Award winning TV Series, Orange is the New Black.