I am not about to rehash the Buruji Kashamu’s matter. The reading public, especially those interested in the legal and political history of the matter, knows more than enough to make up their mind. My only concern here is precedence and the rule of law.
Whether or not you dislike Chief Buruji Kashamu shouldn’t matter. Whether or not he belongs to the opposition party should be of no concern of yours. And whether or not he offended former president Olusegun Obasanjo should be irrelevant.
And frankly, whether or not he poked his fingers into the eyes and nose of a deity or collection of deities should have no bearing on this matter. What matters is the rule of law.
Indeed, Kashamu may be a social nuisance and a cultural vagabond and whatever else people may think he is. He may have deflated some people’s ego, alright. And he may not be the kind of man you want to have dinner with or be seen dancing and felicitating with. But so what! He is who he is and who he is not radically different from the post-1985 norm. Essentially, he is a product of the Nigerian society. Many of those pointing accusing fingers and or acting “holier than thou” towards him are just being hypocritical.
Let’s deal with important issues. First, what are the findings of a competent and impartial authority on this matter; and has a competent court of law (in Nigeria) made a ruling as to whether or not he should be extradited? We need to know.
The accused and anyone with interest in this matter ought to know what those findings are; and what the position of the court is. It is against the law and against democratic principles to bundle anyone and send them abroad simply because we don’t like the person. Even to our enemies we must not do this. We must stand by the law so that the law can stand by us.
In addition, it is wrong for the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency and members of the Nigerian Police to barricade and threaten the convenience and freedom of a man who has not been adequately proven guilty. Every law abiding citizen of Nigeria must speak against this illegality and affront.
This, and the Buhari government, must afford Kashamu his day in court. This is absolutely necessary! But really, what evidence does the American government have against him? They should tender the evidence before a competent court in Nigeria.
And even if the evidence is there, the accused is still entitled to a day – his day – in the Nigerian court. After all, extraditions are not automatic. We have laws that govern such actions. In addition, there are international conventions and treaties that speak to and guide the extradition of citizens and foreign nationals.
No matter what you may think, Buruji Kashamu is the Senator-Elect for Ogun State. In other words, he is not an “ordinary Nigerian.” Ordinary or not, he is allowed a judicial showing up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Knowing this to be the case, why then is the government bent on denying him his civil and human rights? What’s going on here?
Assuming there is an arrest warrant issued by a court in the US, UK or elsewhere, doesn’t the accused have the right to challenge it? Other than the rule of law, there is something else you should consider: The Americans, French, Germans, the Israelis and many other countries do not take the extradition of their citizens lightly. They don’t! Why then is our government in haste to bundle and exile Buruji Kashamu?
So, first thing first: withdraw agents of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from his premises. Second, prohibit NDLEA agents and the Police and other agencies from laying siege on his homes and offices. And third, he must not be arrested or harassed. Fourth, accord him his right – the right to challenge all and any evidence against him. Allow the law to take its proper course. If in the end the Supreme Court authorizes his extradition, then, so be it.
Until then, no person or institution should condone, encourage or permit extralegal actions against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Or is the Nigerian government now into Extraordinary Rendition? (Renditions are the kidnapping or abduction and transfer of a suspect from one country to another without judicial authorization.)
Finally, whatever your impression and biases against the accused may be, keep it to yourself. Don’t poison the mind of others. Let’s wait for the courts.
Sabella Abidde can be reached at: [email protected]. He is also on Facebook.