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

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.

In 2015, two judges of the Federal High Court, Justice Okon Abang and Justice Ibrahim Buba in separate rulings had nullified the provisional Warrant of Arrest obtained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the Senator.

The judges had also restrained the NDLEA from arresting and arraigning Sen. Kashamu in furtherance of extraditing him to the United States of America to face drug related offences.

But the counsel to the Federal Government, Emeka Ngige (SAN), told a three-man panel of the Appeal court led by Justice Joseph Ikhegh, today that the
two rulings of the Federal High Court on the issue did not follow due process of law.

He alleged that Mr Kashamu had suppressed certain facts before the lower court to secure the restraining order against his extradition.

Mr Ngige, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection and set aside the verdicts of the Federal High Court.

Kashamu’s Lawyer, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has, however, opposed these arguments. He told the court that the submissions made by Mr Ngige on behalf of the Federal Government is not applicable to the facts before the court and the rulings of the Federal High Court on the issue reflected the true position of Law.

He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the government’s appeal against his client.

After listening to the parties, the Appeal Court panel, reserved the judgment till a date which will be communicated to the parties.