I used military uniform to smuggle cars – Suspects

A suspected smuggler who was arrested with full military uniform and other exhibits, yesterday, said he obtained the uniform to aid him in smuggling cars from Cotonou, Benin Republic, to Nigeria.

Bartholomew Paul, who claimed to be a driver, was paraded yesterday by the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with seven other suspects arrested for offences bordering on impersonation, illegal possession of firearm, vandalism and illegal dealing on telecommunication underground cables. According to him, a friend of his, Sgt Bello Sani of the 323 Artillery Brigade Akure, gave him the military uniform and boots to aid him in his car smuggling business.

Parading the suspects, the Kogi State Commander of the NSCDC, Everistus Obiyo, said the Nigerian Army operating at a military check point at Ayere axis of the state arrested Paul on June 7 with military uniform and handed him over for investigation and prosecution.

He said exhibits recovered from the suspect included a black Lexus Jeep (RX 300), full military uniform, two different passports taken in military uniform, two identity cards bearing different names and an ATM card bearing another name.

Also paraded are the trio of Hafiz Musa Umar, Faruk Ibrahim and Oseni Yau who were arrested at Ijumu LGA of the state by men of the NSCDC while in possession of six bags of vandalised telecommunication underground cables.

The command also paraded one Adama Asuba and Gideon Isaac from Idah LGA of the state while in possession of vandalised armoured cables.

Obiyo also paraded the duo of Mohammed Adamu and Abubakar Abdulkareem who were arrested at Ijumu LGA of the state with a locally made pistol and two live cartridges. He said the suspects were arrested by men of the Nigerian Army and handed over to the NSCDC.

He said all the cases are currently under investigation and that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion.