The Federal Government, through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, is set to arraign 10 individuals Monday on terrorism charges.
According to The PUNCH, these charges stem from their alleged involvement in the illegal importation of firearms and ammunition valued at N4bn into Nigeria in June.
Sources revealed on Sunday that the centre has completed its investigation into the sizable arms shipment intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service in Port Harcourt earlier in 2024.
During a June operation, Customs officers at the Onne Port intercepted a 40-foot container packed with 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition.
The smuggled arms were cleverly hidden within ordinary items such as doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags.
The container, which had reportedly originated from Turkey, was estimated to have a duty-paid value of N4bn.
A senior official from the arms centre confirmed that 10 individuals apprehended in connection with the importation would face charges today in Abuja.
“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,” the source stated.
According to a charge sheet obtained on Sunday, the 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 case registered as FHC/ABJ/CR/463/2024, the suspects face four charges related to terrorism, illegal arms importation, and forgery, among other crimes.
The charges allege that the defendants, in collaboration with others still at large, illegally brought in 844 firearms and 112,500 rounds of ammunition, concealing them inside plumbing materials and other goods within a 40-foot container with registration number MAEU-9165396.
These acts, according to the charges, violate Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendants are also accused of falsifying a bill of lading, changing the consignment’s consignee from Ola Gold Maritime Services to Dan Autos Limited.
This alteration was done to divert the container’s destination from the West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited in an effort to obscure their illegal activities.
The Federal Government contends that this constitutes “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 charge sheet further specifies, “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 substances 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.”
Furthermore, the defendants are accused of importing the weapons into the country without proper licensing or authority, in violation of Section 18 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004. The offence is punishable under section 27(a)(iii) of the same Act.
