Drama as rejection of lawyers stall arraignment of suspected gun runners, terrorists
An try by the Federal Authorities to arraign 10 alleged importers of firearms and ammunition and suspected terrorists used to be on Monday scuttled at the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja by two of the accused persons.
The arraignment billed earlier than Justice Emeka Nwite used to be scuttled attributable to non-availability of simply practitioners for two of the accused persons and their rejection of free simply services and products equipped by two lawyers in court docket.
The ten accused persons are Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Mayowa Segun, Augustine John Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Wahab Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilehin and Tolulope Ogundepo.
They had been accused of allegedly importing into Nigeria, prohibited 844 firearms and 112, 500 rounds of Cartridges hid in plumbing materials in a container with quantity MAEU-9165396 on June 20, 2024 at Onne in Port Harcourt contrary to portion 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004.
They had been also presupposed to have altered a bill of lading of the consignment from Ola Gold Maratine Products and services to Dan Autos Little and diverted the motion of the container from West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Little to duvet up the importation of prohibited fingers and ammunition contrary to portion 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
In depend three, Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles and others at gargantuan had been acknowledged to have on June 20, at Onne in Port Harcourt with intent to commit acts of terrorism, transported prohibited weapons and other unhealthy substance on board Maersk Vigo Ship with a bill of lading 238921355 conveying a container quantity MAEU-9165396 into Nigeria.
The alleged act is presupposed to be prejudicial to nationwide safety and in violation of ECOWAS Convention on puny fingers and gentle-weight weight weapons punishable below portion 39(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Prohibition Act 2022.
Equally, each Ofoma and Charles had been further presupposed to have on June 20 imported firearms and ammunitions on board a Maersk Vigo ship with a bill of lading quantity 238921355 in a container quantity MAEU-9165396 without requisite license or authority contrary to portion 3(B) of the Firearms Act.
Alternatively, at the point of discovering out the prices to the ten defendants, the court docket chanced on that the sixth and Seventh defendants, Augustine John Elechi and Osumini Kennedy respectively don’t have any simply representation as required by law.
In the drama that ensued, two simply practitioners, Deji Adeyanju and George Ogara volunteered free simply services and products to the 2 accused persons nevertheless they rejected the offers.
In compliance with the law, Justice Nwite acknowledged that it would no longer be perfect to rob the plea of the defendants within the absence of their counsel.
The mediate attributable to this truth mounted September 12 to permit the 2 accused persons ranking lawyers of their resolution for their arraignment.
Justice Nwite also ordered that the ten defendants be taken to Intelligence Response Crew (IRT) custody of the Nigeria Police for retain till September 12.
On the lawsuits, Chioma Onuegbu, a Deputy Director, National Middle for the Alter of Miniature Arms and Lightweight Weapon, Place of job of the National Security Adviser (NSA), stood for the Federal Authorities.
