The arraignment of 10 suspects accused of illegal arms importation valued at N4 billion was postponed by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday due to the absence of legal representation for two of the defendants. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to September 12, 2024, while ordering the remand of the suspects in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The defendants, Ali Ofoma, Okechukwu Charles, Kingsley Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Segun, Augustine Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilehin, and Tolulope Ogundepo, were arrested in June in connection with the illegal importation of 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition from Turkey. The firearms were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Onne Port in Rivers State, where they were hidden in a 40-foot container disguised as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.
When the case was called for arraignment, eight of the defendants had legal representation, but the 6th and 7th defendants were without lawyers. Although lawyers Deji Adeyanju and George Ogala, who were present in court for unrelated matters, offered to represent the two defendants for free, both declined. The 6th defendant explained that he had only received the charges on Sunday night and was unable to secure his lawyer’s presence in court.
In light of this, Justice Nwite adjourned the arraignment and remanded all defendants in the custody of the IRT. According to the charges, the defendants conspired to illegally import prohibited firearms and ammunition into Nigeria, altering shipping documents to disguise their intent. The prosecution alleged that the defendants knowingly forged bills of lading and diverted the shipment to cover up their actions, violating sections of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
