U.S. Dismisses 31-Year Narcotics Case Against Late Nigerian Senator Kashamu After DNA Confirmation

The United States government has officially withdrawn narcotics charges against the late Nigerian politician Buruji Kashamu after confirming his 2020 death linked to Coronavirus through DNA evidence. Judge Jorge Alonso of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division granted the dismissal on April 18, closing a legal saga that spanned more than three decades.

The case, which inspired the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black,” began in 1994 when Kashamu was accused of leading an international drug trafficking operation. Though arrested in the United Kingdom, he successfully fought extradition after a judge ruled American authorities failed to prove he was the correct suspect.

Kashamu maintained his innocence throughout his life, claiming mistaken identity. After returning to Nigeria in 2009, he pursued a political career, eventually winning election to the Nigerian Senate in 2015, where he represented Ogun East Senatorial District. Despite multiple extradition attempts and court orders, Kashamu remained in Nigeria until his coronavirus-related death in 2020.

It remains unclear whether U.S. authorities will pursue seizure of Kashamu’s assets, which include gambling interests and real estate holdings in Lagos.