Court Remands Five Persons Over Export Of N22.3bn Pangolin Scale, Elephant Tusk

A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, ordered the
remand in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) five
persons, who were accused of trying to export N22.3 billion worth
of Pangolin scale and Elephant tusk.

The five accused persons include; four Guinea nationals and a
Nigerian. Three of the accused who were present in court were
arrested in Lagos in August 2021, by officials of the Nigeria
Customs Service.

The accused who were identified as Troare Djakonba, Muyribein
Bereye, Mohammed Berete, Sediki Berete (Guinean) and Isiaka Musa
were arraigned before Justice Tijjani Rigim of the Federal High
Court, Lagos on a four-count charge.

However, Muyribein Bereye and Sediki Berete were not in court as
they were said to be on the run. But counsel to Nigeria Customs
Service told the court that effort was ongoing to ensure their
arrest and are made to answer charges in court.

Meanwhile, all accused persons were arraigned on four-count
charges bordering on collecting, loading, transporting and
attempting to export N22.3 billion worth of Pangolin scales and
Elephant tusk.

The charges brought against them in court were read in Manike
language, a Guinean dialect by a translator. They, however, pleaded
not guilty to all four count charges.

The trial Judge, Justice Tijjani Rigim, ordered that the accused
remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service until
September 1, 2021, when a counter application for a bail
application filed by the defence counsel is filed by NCS.

Justice Tijjani Rigim adjourned the case till September 1, 2021,
to allow the Nigeria Customs Service to file a counter bail
application.

Briefing newsmen after the arraignment, counsel to the Nigeria
Customs Service, Smart Akande, said all necessary applications
would be filed before the adjourned date.

Barr. Akande said the five accused persons were supposed to have
been arraigned in court, on August 18, 2021, but was stalled by the
absence in the court of a translator.

Recall that the Comptroller General of NCS, Col. Hameed Ali
(rtd) had on August 4, 2021, said officials of the service arrested
three persons with different kilograms of Pangolin scales and
Elephant tusks worth N22.3 billion in Lagos.

“While displaying the seizures to newsmen in Lagos, the CGC Col.
said the 17,137.44 kilograms of Pangolin scales (196 sacks), 870.44
kilograms of Elephant tusks and 4.60 kilograms of Pangolin claws
were evacuated at a location on the eastern side of Ijeoma street,
Lekki, Lagos State after proper examination.

“He also said extensive collaboration yielded credible
intelligence that triggered swift and comprehensive actions by the
customs intelligence unit and headquarters strikeforce,” Akande had
said.

A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, ordered the
remand in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) five
persons, who were accused of trying to export N22.3 billion worth
of Pangolin scale and Elephant tusk.

The five accused persons include; four Guinea nationals and a
Nigerian. Three of the accused who were present in court were
arrested in Lagos in August 2021, by officials of the Nigeria
Customs Service.

The accused who were identified as Troare Djakonba, Muyribein
Bereye, Mohammed Berete, Sediki Berete (Guinean) and Isiaka Musa
were arraigned before Justice Tijjani Rigim of the Federal High
Court, Lagos on a four-count charge.

However, Muyribein Bereye and Sediki Berete were not in court as
they were said to be on the run. But counsel to Nigeria Customs
Service told the court that effort was ongoing to ensure their
arrest and are made to answer charges in court.

Meanwhile, all accused persons were arraigned on four-count
charges bordering on collecting, loading, transporting and
attempting to export N22.3 billion worth of Pangolin scales and
Elephant tusk.

The charges brought against them in court were read in Manike
language, a Guinean dialect by a translator. They, however, pleaded
not guilty to all four count charges.

The trial Judge, Justice Tijjani Rigim, ordered that the accused
remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service until
September 1, 2021, when a counter application for a bail
application filed by the defence counsel is filed by NCS.

Justice Tijjani Rigim adjourned the case till September 1, 2021,
to allow the Nigeria Customs Service to file a counter bail
application.

Briefing newsmen after the arraignment, counsel to the Nigeria
Customs Service, Smart Akande, said all necessary applications
would be filed before the adjourned date.

Barr. Akande said the five accused persons were supposed to have
been arraigned in court, on August 18, 2021, but was stalled by the
absence in the court of a translator.

Recall that the Comptroller General of NCS, Col. Hameed Ali
(rtd) had on August 4, 2021, said officials of the service arrested
three persons with different kilograms of Pangolin scales and
Elephant tusks worth N22.3 billion in Lagos.

“While displaying the seizures to newsmen in Lagos, the CGC Col.
said the 17,137.44 kilograms of Pangolin scales (196 sacks), 870.44
kilograms of Elephant tusks and 4.60 kilograms of Pangolin claws
were evacuated at a location on the eastern side of Ijeoma street,
Lekki, Lagos State after proper examination.

“He also said extensive collaboration yielded credible
intelligence that triggered swift and comprehensive actions by the
customs intelligence unit and headquarters strikeforce,” Akande had
said.