An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has dismissed an application brought by an Ogun State senator, Buruji Kashamu, seeking to stop the police from investigating him in a case of alleged attempt to assassinate another senator, Oladipupo Kessington.
Mr. Kashamu had approached the court with a request to stop an investigation which began after Mr. Kessington accused him of attempting to take his (Kessington’s) life.
Mr. Kashamu told the court that the attempt to invite him for questioning by a special investigation panel of the police force, is actually a ploy to hand him to the United States authorities where he is wanted for drug related offences.
Mr. Kashamu’s lawyer, Raphael Oluyede, asked the court to ensure the fundamental rights of his clients are not abused by the police whom he alleged would force his client to go abroad against his will.
Delivering the ruling however, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said the law empowers the police to invite and investigate any Nigerian for such an offence as that alleged against Mr. Kashamu.
Mr. Dimgba said by virtue of the law, the police are bound to invite the applicant and that he is bound to respect the invitation. The judge added that the allegation about a ploy to forcefully take the applicant to the U.S. was baseless and without any foundation.
Oladipupo Kessington
“I do not see how the police can be faulted by acting within the constitution to invite the senator. I do not believe that the allegations of ploy to extradite the applicant to the United States of America is justified here.
“Police is bound to set up an investigating panel and the senator is bound to submit himself to the organs of the police including honouring the letter of investigation,” the judge ruled.