Businessman docked over illegal importation of 1,570 rifles

Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), yesterday, arraigned one Ifeuwa Moses Christ, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly importing 1570 pump action rifles into the country without lawful authority.

Ifeuwa, a resident of 1, Ifeuwa Street, Ogidi, Anambra State, is being arraigned alongside one Ayogu Great James, of Plot 291, Dawaki extention, opposite Gwarinpa estate, Abuja, and Emeka Umeh Festus, also known as Amankwa, who is said to be at large.

Also, charged before the court, is an Oil and Gas company, Great James Oil and Gas Limited, located at 1, Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos.

All the accused persons were charged with conspiracy, illegal importation of firearms and forgery and altering of Customs’ import documents.

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused and others listed in a charge sheet conspired between September 6 to 20, 2017 to illegally and unlawfully import a total of 1570 pump action rifles into Nigeria, through Apapa, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the accused loaded the said 1570 pump action rifles in two 1× 20 feet containers marked GESU 2555208 and CMAU 1878178.

He said the accused and others now at large, in a bid to illegally and unlawfully bring in the weapons, altered and forged a bill of lading, issued in July 28, 2017, to read Guandong, China, instead of Istanbul, Turkey, which was written on the conveying container.

The accused were also alleged to altered a forged bill of lading numbered ISB0281398, issued in July 28, 2017, to read 230 packages of wash hand basin and W/C, as the content in the container used in shipping in the illegal firearms.

After their pleas were taken, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the determination of the charge.

Lawyer to the accused, Mr. C. J. Jakponna, despite not filing any processes before the court, urged the court to grant his client bail in a liberal term.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, while turning down the lawyer’s request, adjourned the matter till November 20 and 21, for commencement of trial, and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.