Saturday, May 23, 2015

Senator Elect Kashamu Arrested in Lagos

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian drug agents on Saturday arrested a senator-elect wanted by the United States in a nearly 20-year-old heroin deal that was allegedly the basis for the TV hit "Orange Is The New Black."


Buruji Kashamu is under house arrest at his Lagos home, spokesman Ofoyeju Mitchell of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency told The Associated Press. He said Kashamu, 56, will appear in court Monday to start extradition proceedings to the United States. Kashamu had already been suing a Nigerian court to prevent attempts to extradite him. Kashamu had become a powerful politician and financier of President Goodluck Jonathan's party. Jonathan and his party both lost in the March election but Kashamu was elected a senator in balloting opponents said was rigged.