NIGERIA (Ogun)- Following his accuse by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo in a recent letter sent to the erstwhile PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the concerned Chieftain of PDP, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, has sued the former president for libel at the Federal High Court.

Kashamu disclosed that the suit was to finally clear his name and end allegations making the rounds that he was a fugitive.

He claimed that he had never been sentenced anywhere in the world, adding that he was surprised that the same evidence that was dismissed by the British courts that ruled that his linkage to a drug-related case was a case of mistaken identity, was what the former president was relying on to tarnish his image.

Kashamu, through his media aide, Austin Oniyokor, said: “Are you saying that America does not know where I am? America is not a stupid nation. It is the most powerful nation on earth. If I am a fugitive, do you think that they would not have long come for me?

“I gave myself up in London and after the court processes, I was allowed to go with nothing against me.

“We wish to state for the umpteenth time that  Buruji Kashamu is not the one being wanted for any drug-related case in the US. The warrant of arrest issued against him 20 years ago in the US collapsed once the British court held that it was a case of mistaken identity.

“When Prince Kashamu was arrested in London upon the mere suspicion that he fits into the description that the suspects gave, after a rigorous trial spanning three-and-a-half years, he was released once the court found that it was a case of mistaken identity.

“It should also be noted that the case itself is statute barred, according to the US laws, by reason of the fact that it failed to bring any fresh action against Kashamu within two-and-a-half years after his release by the British court.

“Persuaded that he is innocent of charges against him and based on his acquittal and eventual release by the British courts – the third time in a row –  Kashamu instructed his lawyers in the US to file an action in the US court seeking to quash the charges against him. Of course, this is inclusive of the initial warrant of arrest that was used to arrest him in London. He took this step to clear his name, once and for all.

“The point that should be noted here is that the latest action in the US was commenced by Kashamu in order to clear his name; not the US authorities.

“We reckon that it will be illogical to expect the US government to drop the warrant and charges without a judicial pronouncement, especially when, according to them, some of those involved are still at large.

“Finally, we wish to state that under US-UK Extradition Treaty, individuals are only extradited after a UK court has reviewed the case and determined that it meets the legal requirements for extradition

“In this instance, the unassailable British court reviewed it, found that if falls short of its high standard and freed Kashamu,”  the statement said.