The
Federal Government has instituted two appeals before the Lagos Division
of the Court of Appeal against the orders of the Federal High Court
barring security agencies in the country from arresting and commencing
extradition proceedings against Senator Buruji Kashamu.
Two
judges of the Federal High Court, Justice Okon Abang and Justice Ibrahim
Buba had in separate rulings nullified the provisional warrant of
arrest obtained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
against the Senator representing Ogun-East.
The
judges had also restrained the NDLEA from arresting and arraigning
Kashamu in furtherance of moves to extradite him to the United States of
America to face drug related offences.
In one of the appeals,
the Federal Government argued that the court cannot fetter the hands of
security or prosecuting agencies in the lawful discharge of their
functions.
In the second appeal, the government submitted that
from a careful scrutiny of the case, it was clear that the lower courts
aided Kashamu to abuse the processes of the court.
The
Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF in the appeal, also insisted
that the English Courts, have not exonerated Senator Kashamu on drug
related charges but only ruled on his extradition proceedings.
Senior
Advocate of Nigeria, Emeka Ngige, who represented the Federal
Government in the matter has therefore asked the Federal High Court to
stay further proceedings in the matter pending the hearing and
determination of the appeals.
Counsel to Senator Buruji Kashamu,
Ajibola Oluyede, has however described the application as an ambush on
the contempt proceedings against the AGF and the NDLEA
In a
brief ruling, Justice Buba adjourned further hearing of the matter till
June 23 to enable the lawyers produce before him copies of the appeal
and all other documents in the matter.
Credit: Channels
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