Armourers to face trial on Wednesday

The trial of police armourers who use to sell arms and ammunition to armed robbers has been fixed for January 25 by the Federal High court, Gusau.

Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Maibindiga, (an arms dealer), Sgt. Kelvin Joseph, (Armourer for both Zamfara and Sokoto States) Sgt. Bello Mohammed, Retired DSP Abubakar Ibrahim, Sgt. Mohammed Isah and Inspector Musa Bzigu (RTD) are all facing a joint trial over alleged illegal dealing in prohibited firearms.

Upon arraignment, five of defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges while Rtd. DSP Abubakar Ibrahim and Inspector Musa Bzigu Rtd. pleaded guilty as charged.

DSP Abubakar Ibrahim (Rtd) was found guilty of illegally dealing in prohibited ammunition by exposing for sale 2634 rounds of live ammunition while Inspector Musa Bzigu (Rtd) was found guilty of illegally dealing in prohibited ammunition by selling 4 AK 47 and one Revolver Air Pistol, one Berretta Air Pistol and 2634 live ammunition.

Both Inspector Musa Bzigu (Rtd) and DSP Abubakar Ibrahim (Rtd) were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on each of the four counts of the charge that they pleaded guilty to.

The trial judge, Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu said that the convicts have 30 days within which to appeal both the conviction and sentence if they are not satisfied.

The defedants are being prosecuted at Gusau by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) through the office the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation.

The court also fixed the trial of the four other defendants for January 25.