Arms importation: Suspects lose bail bid

The four suspects recently arraigned by the Federal Government
for allegedly importing 661 pump-action rifles into the country
without lawful authority have lost out in their bid to be granted
bail by the court.

This was sequel to the rejection of their bail applications by
Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court in Lagos
Thursday.

In dismissing the applications filed by Mahmud Hassan, Oscar
Okafor, Donatus Achinulo and Salihu Danjuma, the judge directed the
accelerated hearing of the matter, in view of the severity of the
allegations against the suspects.

The Federal Government had while opposing the bail applications
said it would be unhealthy to release the suspects to the society
on bail.

A lawyer from the office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation, K. A. Fagbemi, argued that releasing the four suspects
on bail might put their lives at risk as no one is sure of what the
suspect who is at large is up to.

“He’s still out there. He could be a risk to their own lives.
It’s one of the grounds that the defendants should not be granted
bail for their own good,” the lawyer said.

Earlier, the defence lawyers; Yakubu Galadima, Godwin Okaka,
Olumide Oyewole and Adamu Ibrahim, had while urging the court to
free their clients on bail promised to ensure that the accused
persons attend their trial.

The four suspects recently arraigned by the Federal Government
for allegedly importing 661 pump-action rifles into the country
without lawful authority have lost out in their bid to be granted
bail by the court.

This was sequel to the rejection of their bail applications by
Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court in Lagos
Thursday.

In dismissing the applications filed by Mahmud Hassan, Oscar
Okafor, Donatus Achinulo and Salihu Danjuma, the judge directed the
accelerated hearing of the matter, in view of the severity of the
allegations against the suspects.

The Federal Government had while opposing the bail applications
said it would be unhealthy to release the suspects to the society
on bail.

A lawyer from the office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation, K. A. Fagbemi, argued that releasing the four suspects
on bail might put their lives at risk as no one is sure of what the
suspect who is at large is up to.

“He’s still out there. He could be a risk to their own lives.
It’s one of the grounds that the defendants should not be granted
bail for their own good,” the lawyer said.

Earlier, the defence lawyers; Yakubu Galadima, Godwin Okaka,
Olumide Oyewole and Adamu Ibrahim, had while urging the court to
free their clients on bail promised to ensure that the accused
persons attend their trial.