By Jide Ajani, Evelyn Usman, Daud Olatunji and Ifeanyi Okolie

Read I am ready to die than be extradited to the US — Kashamu

In  commando-style,  officers of  the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, stormed the Lekki residence of senator-elect  (Ogun East, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu, yesterday, at about 5am.

Some of the officers, hooded (masked)  and  heavily armed, broke down the gates to the main residence.  In addition, in an attempt to get to Kashamu, three doors in the duplex, where he resides, were broken in their bid to get at him.

Sunday Vanguard learnt from very dependable sources in the office of the Chairman, Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, that there was indeed an extradition request on Kashamu.

Ahmadu Giade

It was in the bid of  the NDLEA to grant the request that the officers and men were sent to “bring in Kashamu”, the source told Sunday Vanguard.

However, what was expected by NDLEA to be an easy operation turned into an over 17-hour stand-off (that was, as at the time of going to press).

Sunday Vanguard learnt that as the NDLEA operatives, led by one Abubakar Sadiq, an Assistant Commander, began tearing down the gates and doors of the expansive duplex, located  at Plot 21, Block 100, Ladipo Omotesho Cole Street, Lekki Phase One, Kashamu made for one of the toilets in the building.

After tearing down some four doors, and still unable to locate Kashamu, nerves were calmed.

Some of the personal staff of Kashamu requested from the NDLEA operatives the warrant for the operation being carried out.

And whereas there were conflicting reports as to what documents the NDLEA men produced, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that officers and men from the police post located not far from the residence also stormed the place.

A  source from NDLEA said  “the presence of the police was to play a part in the whole drama because that appeared to have bought our target some breather.  Their presence made us lose some time”.

Kashamu

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the practice for such an operation to be carried out required that the NDLEA operatives ought to have “booked their presence” with the police in the jurisdiction.

A source said Kashamu, since 5am when he was holed up in the toilet, did not have  access to food and water.

Omotesho Cole Street was  barricaded.

Residents of the area  were  said  to be apprehensive as the NDLEA operatives  used a yellow, CAUTION, tape to fence off passers-by.  Vehicles were  allowed to go in or out of the street by the NDLEA operatives.

Interestingly, Kashamu had secured  a court order restraining a number of government agencies from acting in a manner that would put his liberty in jeopardy. The substantive case is slated for hearing on  May 27.

And in what appeared to be a twist and a show of solidarity, at about 7:20pm yesterday, some 60 supporters of Kashamu arrived  his Lekki residence in five buses.