5 persons charge to court over importation of 661 pump action rifles

Harboursandport.com: The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned five men for allegedly importing 661 pump-action rifles into the country without lawful authority.

Compt. General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), inspection the seized 661 pump action riffles

The arms were intercepted by the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service on January 30, 2017.

The accused persons: Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye and Salihu Danjuma said to be at large, were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 1(2)(c), 1(14) (a)(i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said the accused brought the rifles into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

The prosecution also alleged that the first accused, Hassan, corruptly gave one million Naira to government officials at the Apapa Port in order to prevent the search of the container by Customs officials.

According to the prosecution, in order to evade payment of Customs duty, the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on January 9, 2017, falsely claiming that it was issued at Shanghai, China.

Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, K.A. Fagbemi, applied for a date to commence trial but urged the court to order that the accused should be remanded in the prison custody pending trial.

Justice Faji adjourned the case to September 12, 2017 for definite hearing and ordered that the accused be remanded in the prison custody.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Courtesy: Business and Maritime West Africa