Encomium
-Expensive watches among personal effects missing
-Damage estimated at N20 million
THE trauma of the six-day siege by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives, complicated by diabetes and high blood pressure, landed embattled Senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu in hospital.
Apart from the toll on his health, the siege led to doors and windows being smashed with the damage put at about N20 million and many personal effects such as expensive watches and perfumes growing wings.
Immediately NDLEA operatives vacated the Lekki Peninsular Scheme 1 home (Lagos), the psychological trauma and his medical condition necessitated hospitalization, Austin Oniyokor, his media aide told ENCOMIUM Weekly on Sunday, May 31, 2015.
We learnt that Prince Kashamu will leave hospital (in Lagos) this week in readiness for being sworn in alongside other senators on June 9, 2015.
Oniyokor assured ENCOMIUM Weekly that Prince Kashamu will be at the inauguration of the Senate in Abuja (Federal Capital Territory) on June 9, 2015, in spite of threats of extradition to the United States of America where he’s alleged to have operated a drug cartel.
“He has no fears about being arrested,” Oniyokor told us. “He believes he has not committed any offence. The court has intervened and Nigeria is a country governed by law and order.
“The court has restrained all agencies from molesting and arresting him on the same allegations (of drugs) he has been discharged of.”
Kashamu, we gathered, has long lived with diabetes and high blood pressure which he’s managed successfully.
But the stress of sleeping in his bathroom for six days, the psychological toll of having over 50 armed men in his house, led to his being admitted in a Lagos hospital.
During the six-day operation by NDLEA, Oniyokor put the number of armed men of the agency at the Ladipo Ometesho Street, Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island (Lagos) home to about 50 at any point in time.
“There were ten armed men in the sitting room upstairs,” he claimed. “Another ten in the sitting room downstairs. Two each in the other seven bedrooms.
“In Kashamu’s bedroom, there were 12 masked men!
“And there were others around the compound, on the street and environ.”
A head count of those in Kashamu’s house at the time NDLEA operatives came included the heavily pregnant wife, some of his children, about six staffers and policemen (who had to leave immediately).
“There were about 15 people altogether,” Oniyokor estimated.
During the siege, family members and staffers were allowed to go about their duties and businesses. The lawyer could also come and go as he pleased.
NDLEA operatives reportedly broke the gate of Kashamu’s house at around 4.30 a.m on Saturday, may 23, 2015.
“They broke doors and windows, and tampered with the CCTV,” Oniyokor stated. “The damage will be at about N20 million.”
Rumour of protesters demanding the vacation of NDLEA officials being paid $1,000 apiece was quickly dismissed by Oniyokor. “As a politician and philanthropist, he has people who have benefitted from him. Many came from Ijebu (Ogun State) out of genuine love.
“There was a widow interviewed by a TV crew who claimed that she receives monthly allowance from Kashamu. There was no payment to anybody.”
Oniyokor reiterated that his boss is neither evading arrest or afraid of being tried.
“If they had produced a warrant of arrest, he would have followed them. So, if they go to court and obtain one, no problem.”
But he was quick to add that this same extradition proceeding had been concluded in the United Kingdom. “It was at the instance of the United States, and the case ended in Kashamu’s favour.”
