Lawyers’ Absence Stalls FG’s Arraignment Of ‘Gunrunners, Terrorists’
Attempts by the Federal Government to arraign ten suspects arrested over their alleged involvement in the illegal importation of firearms and ammunition worth N4bn was stalled on Monday, due to unavailability of legal counsel for the accused persons.
The defendants were to be arraigned on six-count charges bordering on terrorism, and importation of firearms, among others, brought against them by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force.
The ten defendants include Ali Ofoma, Okechukwu Charles, Kingsley Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Segun, Augustine Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilehin and Tolulope Ogundepo.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/463/2024, the defendants were accused of intentionally conspiring with others at large to illegally import 844 firearms and 112,500 rounds of cartridges concealed in plumbing materials and other items loaded inside a 1 x 40ft container with Registration Number MAEU-9165396.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The FG also accused the defendants of altering a bill of lading of the consignment from Ola Gold Maratine Services to read Dan Autos Limited and diverted the movement of the container from the West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited to cover up their illegal intention to import prohibited arms and ammunitions.
By doing this, the FG said the defendants committed “an act of uttering of the forged document with the intent that it may anyway be used or acted upon as genuine contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The Police specifically alleged that Ofoma, Charles and others at large on June 20, 2024, conspired to commit an act of terrorism, by transporting prohibited weapons and other dangerous weapons, into the country, without required license or authority, contrary to Section 18 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 27 (a) (i) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
However, while all other defendants had legal representations, the 6th and 7th defendants, Augustine John Elechi and Osumini Kennedy had no counsels representing them.
Two lawyers, Deji Adeyanju and George Ogala who were present offered them free legal representation but they declined the offer.
The 6th defendant explained to the court that he was just served the process to appear in court, on sunday night and insisted that he will get a lawyer to represent him.
In compliance with the law, Justice Nwite said it will not be proper to take their pleas when they have no legal representation and adjourned till September 12, 2024, for rearraignment.
He also ordered that the defendants be remanded in the IRT’s custody.
