SENATOR AND REP CLASHED AT AIRPORT.
Adamu Kamale, a house member representing Michika/Madagali escaped from death on Wednesday, November 23, after he clashed with a senator over the distribution of relief materials to internally displaced people. The incident took place at the Yola International Airport when the senator representing Adamawa central senatorial zone, Abdulaziz Nyako, clashed with Kamale.
The national assembly members and some other stakeholders were set to be on their way to deliver relief materials to Madagali following the bomb blasts that rocked the area when the clash occurred. They were arranged to go as a team while NEMA officials supervised the delivery but Senator Nyako allegedly refused to allow Kamale join the flight.
”But, while they were about to board the helicopter, Senator Abdulaziz Nyako was seen saying that, ‘Kamale should not be allowed to use the helicopter as he (Nyako) is the chairman of the delegation.’ This caused drama and hot argument.” Speaking on the incident, Kamale said: “Following the unfortunate incidence of bomb blast explosions in Madagali, which is one of the local governments in my constituency, the Governor of Adamawa State, together with other well-meaning Nigerians including members of the National Assembly solicited for relief materials from the National Emergency Agency (NEMA) for the people of Madagali.
“As the honorable member representing the area, I personally called on the director general of NEMA earlier on Monday the 20th of November, 2017 to ensure the delivery of the relief materials. Arrangements were made with all the stakeholders, including Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, who is the chairman, senate committee on IDPs /NEMA to deliver the relief materials.
Air Commodore Ohemu was assigned by NEMA to supervise the delivery. ”A helicopter was arranged by the Air Force to convey some of the stakeholders to where the materials was to be distributed on Wednesday, November, 21st, 2017 by 9am. I was billed to travel on board the helicopter with Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, Air commodore Ohemu and others.
“To my utmost dismay, while I was to board the helicopter, Senator Abdulaziz Nyako ordered that I should not be permitted to use the helicopter as he is the chairman of the delegation.
“All my efforts to draw the attention of the Senator and the Air Force officer failed and in the process, the Air Force officer ordered his men on ground to assault my person and to put me in the guardroom. They tore up my dresses. I sustained a lot of bruises from my forceful withdrawal from the helicopter,” Mr. Kamale said. He added, that: “The people of Madagali have suffered several attacks and have been traumatised for many years. As their representative, I have never seen Senator Abdulaziz Nyako in Madagali to commiserate with the people of the area over the several unfortunate incidences. “I cannot explain this sudden ‘monopoly’ of the Senator on the Federal government’s relief materials meant for the people of my constituency,” Mr. Kamale said.
On his part, Nyako denied assaulting Kamale. He, however, went to tell his own version of the story. He said: “Last week, I was at NEMA headquarters for oversight function being the chairman, senate committee on IDPs/ NEMA. They requested me to be part (of the process) and to chair the relief materials’ distribution in Gulak, Madagali. So they assured me they would provide me with an aircraft, and they requested that I should provide them with the list of those who will be in my entourage.
”Naturally I provided the names of members of my committee in the Senate and I was also informed by the DG NEMA that Senator Binta Masi Garba (representing the area) will want to be in attendance. So I included her name and that of the chairman, House of Reps committee on NEMA /IDPs, Hon.Jibrin Galjumari.
”To our dismay, after we all boarded the helicopter and the crew had finished all checks and engine was set on with propeller rolling, about to take-off, to our shock, the man in question (Mr. Kamale) from nowhere just jumped in, in what could be described as suicidal mission. He wanted to ‘climb’ the aircraft, a serious situation he put us in.
”So he should thank God for saving his life, not blame me! We were all shocked to our marrow when we were later told that he was a federal lawmaker, who should have known the consequence (of what he did),’’ Mr. Nyako said. But the northeast zonal coordinator of NEMA, Bashir Garga, blamed Kamale for acting in a reckless manner.
He said: ”In the first place, NEMA provided the names of those scheduled for the flight. Kamale’s name was not in the flight manifesto but the honourable member declined to heed to our pleas. ”How could he attempt to enter, after the helicopter was about lifting into the air? Infact, if not that the Air Force pilot was ‘mindful’, the propeller could have cut off his head,’’ the official said.
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NIGERIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SET TO PASS LAW TO BAR US FROM EXTRADITING WANTED DRUG LORD SENATOR KASHAMU
The House of Representatives is in the process of passing a law to prevent the United States from extraditing Mr. Buruji Kashamu, the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, who is wanted in the United States for drug running. This move is contained in the National Assembly Journal of October 20, 2017. The journal indicates that the House of Representatives is considering a bill for the amendment of the Extradition Act 2004. The bill is sponsored by Mr. Solomon Ahwinahwi and sources told Saharareporters the bill is headed to the Senate where Senators are anxiously waiting to pass it into law.
Sought for Incorporation into the proposed law is a provision stating that “where a claim of mistaken identity is raised by a Nigerian citizen, who is the defendant in an extradition case that has been concluded in any of these countries, including Nigeria, hearing held in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the court shall dismiss the application for extradition order and accordingly order the defendant discharged”.
Mr. Kashamu, who has been in the sights of US authorities since the 90s, has consistently claimed that the man being sought for drug running was a deceased younger brother of his with whom he shares close resemblance.
The proposed law also seeks to have it inserted a provision that states that a defendant shall not be arrested, interrogated, detained, charged or convicted “where no evidence is led by the plaintiff or the requesting country to satisfactorily rebut the claim of mistaken identity, as raised by the defendant, or where judgment has not been appealed or set aside within two years, or a case that has been concluded by way of judgment in any country that shares extradition treaty or similar extradition laws with Nigeria”.
Mr. Kashamu was cleared by a British court on the grounds of mistaken identity, an outcome considered unsatisfactory by US authorities. The House of Representatives amended Section 15 of the principal Act by inserting a paragraph stating: “No Nigerian citizen surrendered to Nigeria in accordance with the provision of this section shall be arrested, detained, extradited, proceeded against or otherwise dealt with in Nigeria or any other country within the Commonwealth or country that has same extradition agreement with Nigeria if the proceeding relates to (i) an offence for which he has been previously convicted or acquitted in the requesting country for which extradition is sought by the Nigerian authorities;
(ii) no appeal is pending or has been initiated against the acquittal or conviction of the Nigerian fugitive by the requesting country within two years of his acquittal, or (iii) any person that has been exonerated as fugitive cannot be extradited”.
In its explanatory memorandum, the House stated that the bill seeks to amend the Act to prevent double jeopardy, provide procedural safeguards against the extradition of Nigerian citizens with cases of mistaken identity. This invariably is a boon to Mr. Kashamu, whom a US District Judge has ordered his extradition for drug running.
