By Vivian Okejeme
Abuja
Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have said that Senator Buruji Kashamu would not be extradited to the US to face hard drug importation charges until all court actions in respect of his extradition were resolved.
They made this resolution in the court processes they filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kashamu had dragged the two agencies before the court on the ground that they were planning to forcefully kidnap and abduct him to the US for trial in drug related offences.
When the matter came up yesterday, counsel to Kashamu, Chief Akin Olujimi, told Justice Gabriel Kolawole that the AGF and NDLEA had agreed not to extradite him until all court actions on the issue had been resolved.
Olujimi said in view of the assurances from the two parties, there was no need to pursue any court action against them at the Federal high court level.
He, however, pleaded the court to grant him leave to withdraw the suit against the AGF and NDLEA.
Moreover, the counsel said both parties “will now go back to the Court of Appeal to continue with the appeal cases that stemming from the refusal of the Federal High courts to grant the extradition request.
Counsel to the AGF, Mr. Tanko Ashang, a deputy director and head of central authority in the Federal ministry of justice and counsel to the NDLEA, Mr. Mike Kassa, did not object to the withdrawal of the case and the resolve to go the Appeal Court to pursue all pending appeals.
In his short ruling, Justice Kolawole granted the leave for withdrawal of the suit and the decision to shift to the court of appeal for the pursuit of the appeals.
“In the light of the application of the applicant to withdraw this suit and to move to Court of Appeal to pursue all pending appeals in respect of the extradition matter, leave is hereby granted for withdrawal of this suit,” the judge held.
Kashamu had filed an application in court seeking the committal of the AGF and NDLEA to prison for allegedly making plans to forcefully adopt and kidnap him and transport him to America.
