The trial of five men who were accused of illegally importing
661 pump-action guns into the country was stalled on Wednesday as
the counsel for the first and second defendants, Mr. Yakubu
Galadima, sought “a short adjournment.”
Galadima told Justice Ayokunle Faji that he was ill and could,
therefore, not cross-examine an operative of the Department of
States Services, Jaiye Emmanuel, who testified in the case during
the previous hearing.
The other counsel in the case conceded to Galadima’s prayer for
an adjournment.
Justice Faji, consequently adjourned further proceedings in the
case till March 19, 27, 28 and 29, 2018.
The defendants in the case are Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor,
Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said be at large, and Salihu
Danjuma.
They were arraigned on June 14, 2017 on eight counts before the
Federal High Court in Lagos.
In the charges, the Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice said the accused brought 661 pump-action rifles
into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using
a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel
doors.
To facilitate the illegal importation, the accused allegedly
forged a number of documents including a bill of lading, a Form M
and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report.
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.
In the forged bill of lading, they allegedly filled “steel door”
as the content of the container instead of rifles.
They were also said to have allegedly offered a bribe of
N400,000 to an official of the Nigeria Customs Service attached to
the Federal Operative Unit to influence the said officer not to
conduct a “hundred per cent search on the 40-feet container with
number PONU 825914/3.”
The prosecution also alleged that the first accused, Hassan,
corruptly gave N1m to government officials at the Apapa Port in
order to prevent the search of the container by Customs
officials.
In the last count, the Federal Government alleged that the
defendants had between 2012 and 2016 illegally imported several
double-barreled shotguns, pump-action rifles and single-barreled
shotguns into the country through Lagos.
The eight counts pressed against them border on conspiracy,
importation of prohibited firearms, forgery, uttering of forged
documents, and bribery.
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 accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were
read to them.
The trial of five men who were accused of illegally importing
661 pump-action guns into the country was stalled on Wednesday as
the counsel for the first and second defendants, Mr. Yakubu
Galadima, sought “a short adjournment.”
Galadima told Justice Ayokunle Faji that he was ill and could,
therefore, not cross-examine an operative of the Department of
States Services, Jaiye Emmanuel, who testified in the case during
the previous hearing.
The other counsel in the case conceded to Galadima’s prayer for
an adjournment.
Justice Faji, consequently adjourned further proceedings in the
case till March 19, 27, 28 and 29, 2018.
The defendants in the case are Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor,
Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said be at large, and Salihu
Danjuma.
They were arraigned on June 14, 2017 on eight counts before the
Federal High Court in Lagos.
In the charges, the Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice said the accused brought 661 pump-action rifles
into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using
a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel
doors.
To facilitate the illegal importation, the accused allegedly
forged a number of documents including a bill of lading, a Form M
and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report.
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.
In the forged bill of lading, they allegedly filled “steel door”
as the content of the container instead of rifles.
They were also said to have allegedly offered a bribe of
N400,000 to an official of the Nigeria Customs Service attached to
the Federal Operative Unit to influence the said officer not to
conduct a “hundred per cent search on the 40-feet container with
number PONU 825914/3.”
The prosecution also alleged that the first accused, Hassan,
corruptly gave N1m to government officials at the Apapa Port in
order to prevent the search of the container by Customs
officials.
In the last count, the Federal Government alleged that the
defendants had between 2012 and 2016 illegally imported several
double-barreled shotguns, pump-action rifles and single-barreled
shotguns into the country through Lagos.
The eight counts pressed against them border on conspiracy,
importation of prohibited firearms, forgery, uttering of forged
documents, and bribery.
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 accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were
read to them.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/illegal-firearms-importation-lawyers-sickness-stalls-suspects-trial/