- Last Updated on 29 May 2015
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Lawyer to Nigeria’s Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, Barrister Ajibola Oluyede, on Thursday revealed that his client, whose Ladipo Omotosho Street, Lekki, Lagos home was invaded by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was actually locked up in his bathroom since Saturday when he was placed under house arrest.
The revelation came few hours before the officials of the NDLEA, who had laid siege on Kashamu’s home since Saturday, finally left the place.
The officials had continued to maintain the siege on Kashamu’s home even when a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos asked the NDLEA to vacate the building as it agency could not produce the extradition notice upon which the agency’s action was based.
They insisted the United States government wanted Kashamu arrested and extradited to answer allegations relating to drug offences.
Oluyede said: “Mr. Kashamu was locked up in his bathroom. I have been speaking to Mr. Kashamu through the door of his bathroom since Saturday, 6:30am.
“On Saturday, there were about 20 armed men with machine guns in his bedroom.
“Since the courts gave the order that they should vacate, they have reduced the number of men in Kashamu’s bedroom to about 12 or 10 now.
“They have cordoned off the entire premises. They decide who goes in and who goes out.”
He said Buruji had been complaining about his health since being in the bathroom and that family members and his doctor have been deprived of seeing him.
Oluyede said he was only able to communicate with Kashamu through a crack made by officials of the NDLEA on the wall of the building.
Few hours after Oluyede’s complaint, Buruji’s media aide, Austin Oniyokor, confirmed that the agency’s officials had vacated the building.
After six long nightmarish days and nights that the agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) laid siege to the Lagos residence of senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu, despite valid and subsisting court orders directing them to vacate the place, we are pleased to announce that they have left the facility. They left at exactly 7:45pm. But this was after the agency displayed a high level of brigandage and lawlessness that is only fit for a failed state.
“However, we thank the almighty God for His infinite mercies. He is the one who thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. We also salute the judiciary for once again rising to the occasion and proving yet that it is truly the last hope of the common man and the oppressed. We are grateful that the judiciary has again affirmed Prince Buruji Kashamu’s innocence of the charges against him, thus turning for good what was meant for evil.
“Our appreciation also goes to the media, civil society groups, student bodies and all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers, support and solidarity during the period.
“After attending to his health, Prince Kashamu will address the media, Nigerians and the whole world on his ordeal and the intricate web of political intrigues behind the wicked attempt to abduct him for no just cause using the instrument and machinery of state.
Until then, we hope we can truly say the siege is over.
Earlier, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State axis, had described the continual siege on the residence of the Senator-elect of Ogun East senatorial district, Prince Buruji Kashamu by the officers of the NDLEA as political display and gross misconduct against the laws of Nigeria.
In a statement issued and signed by NANS National Public Relations Officer, Paul Ogunkoya, and the Ogun State NANS Chairman, Olasunkanmi Ahmed, the body said NDLEA, as an agency of government should not lay a bad precedence of disregard to a court of competent jurisdiction.
NANS said: “we have applauded the action of the NDLEA in the past for being one of the dutiful agency in Nigeria of today.
“It saddened the mind of majority of we students leaders that after a competent court of law order them to vacate the premise of the senator-elect as at Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We are highly convinced that the activities of the NDLEA has being politicised, it has involve personal aggrandizement and catekerous attitude for turning a deaf ear to the verdict of the court.”
While urging students to stand for peace and justice, the body threatened to mobilise students for protests at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
We hereby appeal to official of NDLEA to save the future of our dear country, by obeying the law. The younger generation are watching with keen interest.
“We also seized the medium to disclose that failure of NDLEA officials to respect the law within 24-hours might lead to a massive protest at a sooner date to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja,” the student body vowed.
