The Federal Government, through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, will arraign ten persons for terrorism today (Monday) in connection with the N4 billion in illicit firearms and ammunition brought into the country in June.
It was gathered that the armaments centre has completed its investigation into the enormous stockpile of weaponry and ammunition discovered by the Nigerian Customs Service in Port Harcourt in June.
During one of its raids in June, Nigerian Customs apprehended a 40-foot container loaded with 844 rifles and 112,500 live ammunition at Onne Port in Port Harcourt.
The arms and ammunition were alleged to have been skilfully concealed under doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.
The intercepted cargo was similarly said to have originated in Turkey, and its duty-paid worth was set at N4 billion.
According to a top source at the centre, ten suspects seized in Abuja for importing arms and ammunition would be charged in court today (Monday).
According to the source, the suit has been referred to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The source said, “Investigation has been concluded on the matter. Ten suspects were arrested, while others are at large. The suspects will be taken to court on Monday. The case is before Justice Emeka Nwite in Abuja.’’
According to a copy of the charge sheet obtained by a correspondent on Sunday, the defendants are Ali Ofoma, Okechukwu Charles, Kingsley Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Segun, Augustine Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilehin, and Tolulope Ogundepo.
The defendants were charged with four counts of terrorism, unlawful importation of restricted firearms, and forgery in the litigation marked FHC/ABJ/CR/463/2024.
The defendants were accused of knowingly arranging with others to illegally import forbidden 844 guns and 112,500 rounds of ammunition concealed in plumbing materials and other products loaded into a 1 x 40-foot 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 Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The FG also accused the defendants of changing the bill of lading for the consignment from Ola Gold Maratine Services to Dan Autos Limited and diverting the container’s movement from the West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited to conceal their illegal intention to import prohibited arms and ammunition.
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.”
“That you Ofoma, Charles and others at large on or about June 20, 2024, at Onne Port Terminal and your subsequent arrest in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did, knowingly and intentionally with others now at large, commit an act of terrorism to wit: you transported prohibited weapons and other dangerous substance on board a Maersk Vigo Ship with a bill of lading number 238921355 conveying a container number MAEU-9165396 into the country thereby committing an act prejudicial to national security and in violation of ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and you thereby committed-an offence punishable under Section 39(1) (a) (i) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022,” the charge sheet added.
Ofoma, Charles, and others were accused of bringing arms and ammunition into the country without the necessary license or authority, in violation of Section 18 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punished under Section 27(a)(iii) of the same Act.
