The United States has finally dropped its decades-long narcotics case against the late Nigerian politician Buruji Kashamu. Legal records reviewed by Peoples Gazette show the case was dismissed after American authorities confirmed Kashamu’s 2020 death through DNA analysis.
Kashamu died during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Though news of his death was widely reported at the time, the case against him in the U.S. remained active until officials could obtain forensic confirmation. Once this was achieved, the government filed a motion to dismiss the case. Judge Jorge Alonso of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, granted the request on April 18, noting that legal action could not proceed against someone who had died.
The case had received international attention and reportedly influenced the creation of the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black.
Kashamu’s legal troubles began in March 1994 when U.S. prosecutors charged him with operating a drug trafficking network that used American citizens to smuggle narcotics. He was arrested shortly afterward in the United Kingdom, where U.S. authorities requested his extradition. That request was denied after a British court ruled that the prosecution had not proven he was the correct suspect.
Kashamu maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. He claimed that American authorities had mistaken him for his brother, who he said was the actual suspect. The UK court accepted this defence, concluding that there was enough doubt to reject the extradition request.
In 2009, Kashamu returned to Nigeria and began building a political career. He became active in the Peoples Democratic Party and won a seat in the Nigerian Senate in 2015, representing Ogun East Senatorial District. He served in that position until April 2019.
After his election, U.S. officials again sought his extradition. In collaboration with Nigerian authorities, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) attempted to arrest him at his Lagos residence. Kashamu locked himself inside his house, and the standoff lasted several days before his legal team secured a court order forcing NDLEA operatives to withdraw.
Until his death, Kashamu continued to deny involvement in drug trafficking and pursued legal avenues to clear his name. Despite several court orders requiring him to submit to U.S. authorities, he never returned to the United States or the United Kingdom.
The matter lingered until April 18, when the U.S. government, having confirmed his death with DNA evidence, moved to close the case. Judge Alonso approved the dismissal, ending a legal dispute that had lasted for over 30 years.
It is still uncertain whether the U.S. will seek to seize Kashamu’s assets. Reports indicate that he invested in gambling and property, including ownership of the Best Western Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
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