Alleged 1,570 firearms importation: Court refuses accused bail

A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, dismissed a bail
applications filed by two accused, Great Ayogu and Moses Ifeuwa,
standing trial for alleged unlawful importation of 1,570
firearms.

The accused are charged alongside a company, Great James Oil and
Gas Ltd, before Justice Saliu Saidu, on Oct. 11, on five counts of
conspiracy, illegal importation of firearms, alteration of import
forms, forgery and false declaration.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court had
adjourned for ruling on their respective bail applications.

Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, the court held that
individual liberty could not be placed above national security

“The charges against the defendants is considered a serious
charge, with the level of insecurity in the country, such as armed
robbery, kidnapping, terrorism and the rest.

“Considering the nature of the charge, I cannot exercise my
discretion in favour of the defendants; I hereby refuse the bail
applications,” the court held.

After the ruling, the prosecutor, Mr Julius Ajakaiye, informed
the court of a consolidated amended charge against the accused.

He said that the amendment was following the inclusion of one
Emeka Festus, also known as Amankwa, who had been at large when
others were arraigned on Oct. 11.

Consequently, the respective pleas of all accused was taken on
the amended charge, while the court adjourned until Nov. 22 for
trial.

According to the charge, the prosecutor alleged that between
Sept. 6 and 20, 2017, the accused conspired to unlawfully import a
total of 1570 pump action rifles into Nigeria, through the Apapa
Seaport in Lagos.

He told the court that the rifles were loaded in two 20 ft
containers, marked GESU 2555208 and CMAU 1878178.

Ajakaiye, told the court that in a bid to illegally bring in the
weapons, the accused altered and forged a bill of lading, issued on
July 28, 2017, to read Guandong, China, instead of Istanbul,
Turkey, which was written on the conveying container.

He said that the accused also altered form M (application for
Import) and a Pre-arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), issued on
Aug.28, 2017, with number MF 20170080364 and CN 20170768490/001,
respectively, to read Guandong, China instead of Istanbul, Turkey,
as country of origin.

The accused were also said to have altered a bill of lading
numbered ISB0281398, issued on July 28, 2017, to read 230 packages
of wash hand basin and W/C, as the content in the container used in
shipping in the illegal firearms.

The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 1 (14) (a)
of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation
2004.

It also contravenes the provisions of Section 1 (2) (c) of the
Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation
2004.

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