Court remands 10 suspected terrorists over N4bn-worth illegal firearms

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, remanded in police custody 10 suspected terrorists arrested in connection with a N4 billion illegal firearms and ammunition imported into the country in June, this year.

Trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order after an attempt by the Federal Government to arraign them failed owing to the absence of counsel to two of the suspects.

The judge ordered that all the accused persons should be kept in the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, custody of the Nigeria Police till September 12, when they would all be formally arraigned.

The 10 accused persons are Ali Ofoma, Okechukwu Charles, Kingsley Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Segun, Augustine Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilehin and TolulopeOgundepo.

Vanguard reports that all the accused persons were arrested for allegedly importing into Nigeria, prohibited 844 firearms and 112, 500 rounds of Cartridges concealed in plumbing materials in a container with number MAEU-9165396 on June 20, 2024, at Onne in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004.
Specifically, the Nigerian Customs had, during one of its operations in June, intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with 844 rifles and 112,500 live ammunition at the Onne Port in Port Harcourt.

The arms and ammunition were said to have been skillfully concealed within items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings and leather bags.

The intercepted container was also reported to have originated from Turkey and its duty-paid value was put at N4bn.

The defendants were also alleged to have altered a bill of lading of the consignment from Ola Gold Maratine Services to Dan Autos Limited and diverted the movement of the container from West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited to cover up the importation of prohibited arms and ammunitions contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Vanguard