LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, on Tuesday, reinforced the validity of a judgment of the court restraining any extradition process against the senator representating Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu.
The judge, in a judgment on a contempt application filed by Kashamu against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), held that for the avoidance of doubt, it must be stated that an order made by another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang, is still subsisting and must be complied with until set aside by a superior court.
Justice Buba, who earlier dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the NDLEA, said from the processes before him, he was satisfied that the defendants were properly served.
The judge then went on to determine the merit of the contempt application and held that since Justice Abang had previously ruled on a similar case, the instant suit had merely become an academic exercise, unnecessary.
The judge, however, warned the AGF and the NDLEA chairman to be of good conduct and obey the subsisting order of court.
“There should be no overzealous conduct from either of the parties. Government agencies must abide by the rule of law to avoid anarchy. They (AGF and NDLEA chairman) should be of good behaviour until their appeal is determined.
“No matter how aggrieved, they should abide by the order of the court until there is a counter order from a superior court. For the avoidance of doubt, orders of Justice Abang are still subsisting and must be complied with,” Justice Buba held.
In the committal application, Kashamu had asked the court to declare that both AGF and NDLEA chairman were in contempt of the court by reasons of steps taken, in obstruction of the administration of justice evidenced by the wilful violation of the judgment of the court of January 6, 2014, in suit number FHC/L/CS/49/2014 and in order to pre-empt the judgment of the court in suit number FHC/L/CS/508/2015.
He also asked the court to declare that the invasion, destruction of property, harassment, humiliation, arrest and his detention by NDLEA at the instance of AGF from Saturday, May 23, 2015, and any extradition proceeding commenced thereupon undermined the integrity of the judicial process invoked in suit number FHC/L/CS/49/2010 and FHC/L/CS/508/2015.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
