we've avoided Kashamu after Obasanjo's letter, associates tell court.

Two associates of the Chairman of Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, South-West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, have told a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, that they have been avoiding him after former President Olusegun Obasanjo, portrayed him as a wanted criminal in the media. The two men are the plaintiff’s witnesses in the N20.1bn libel suit instituted by Kashamu against Obasanjo in February 2014. They said they read about the criminal allegation as contained in a letter written by Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan and published in both the print and electronic media of December 12, 2013. Kashamu had in his suit alleged that the words used by Obasanjo to describe him in the said letter portrayed him “as a criminal wanted for drugs related offences in the United States of America and the United Kingdom”. His two witnesses, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed and Mr. Omotayo, Alade-Fawole, who is also a lawyer called to the bar in 2008, adopted their statements on oath as their evidence in the case before Justice Valentine Ashi on Tuesday. They were led by the plaintiff’s counsel, Mr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), to adopt their statements on oath, and during cross-examination by Obasanjo’s lawyer, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, they denied knowledge of existence of any drug-related charges against Kahsamu in the US. While Rasheed, stated in his statement that he halted the over 10 years friendship and business relationship with Kasahamu after the letter was published and same was not retracted by Obasanjo, Alade-Fawole, said he had ceased to be Kasahmu’s protocol officer, for the same reason. Alade-Fawole, added that he used to carry out “corporate legal  services for” Kashamu, whom he said he got to know about four years ago through a friend, who was his (Kashamu’s) nephew. Part of his statement on oath reads, “That due to the nature of my closeness to the plaintiff as his protocol, he became an inspiration to me and a role model. “That since I read the aforesaid publication I have avoided serving him in all capacity to avoid being seen with him. “That my refusal to serve him after the said publication is due to the fact that I have not seen or read any retraction by the defendant.” On his part, Rasheed, said before the publication, he was the one carrying out “bulk printing services for the plaintiff’s several companies over the years”. He stated in part, “That my refusal to associate with him after the said publication is due to the fact that I have not seen or read any retraction by the defendant. “That the plaintiff portrayed as criminal has tarnished my perception of him.” Oyewole during cross examination, asked the witnesses if they were aware that Kashamu was arrested for drug-related crimes in 1998, detained for five years, and still being wanted for the crime in the United States. “Are you also aware that the plaintiff has attempted to quash his indictment for the crimes in the US to no avail?” The lawyer asked the witnesses during their turns in the witness box. They both responded negative to the questions. The matter was adjourned till November 17 for the plaintiff to call his last witness and Obasanjo, to invite his only witness.