FG Files Charges Against 10 Suspects Over Importation Of 844 Firearms, 112,500 Cartridges In Port Harcourt
The 10 suspects identified as; Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Mayowa Segun, Augustine John Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Wahab Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilfain and Tolulope Ogundepo, were arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Nigerian government has initiated criminal prosecution of 10 suspects arrested in Onne Port Harcourt, River State for alleged illegal importation of firearms.
The 10 suspects identified as; Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Mayowa Segun, Augustine John Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Wahab Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilfain and Tolulope Ogundepo, were arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
They were arraigned on four-count-charge bordering on conspiracy to illegally import into Nigeria prohibited 844 Firearms and 112,500 Rounds of Cartridges, fortification of document, import without authority and act of terrorism.
The charge which had the Federal Republic Of Nigeria as Complainant and the 10 suspects as Defendants is marked FHA/22/463/2024.
The charge which SaharaReporters obtained on Monday, was filed on September 4, by Deputy Director, National Center for the Control Of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Office of National Security Adviser, Chioma Onuegbu, for the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice.
The charge partly read: “COUNT 1: That you Ali Samson-ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Mayowa Segun, Augustine John Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Wahab Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilfain and Tolulope Ogundepo and Others at Large, male adult on or about the 20th June 2024 at Onne Port Harcourt and your subsequent arrest in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly and intentionally conspired with others now at large to illegally import into Nigeria prohibited 844 (Eight Hundred and fourth-four) Firearms, and 112,500 (One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Five Hundred) Rounds of Cartridges concealed in plumbing materials and other items, loaded inside 1 x 40ft container with Registration number MAEU- 9165396 and you thereby commit an act contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Ali Samson-ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Mayowa Segun, Augustine John Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Wahab Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilfain and Tolulope Ogundepo and Others at Large, male adult on or about the 20th June 2024 at Onne Port Harcourt and your subsequent arrest in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court altered 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 West African Container Terminal (WACT) to WAX Logistics Limited to cover up their illegal intention to import prohibited arms and ammunitions, thereby committing an act of uttering of forged document with intent that it may be any way 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 Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles and Others now at Large, male adult on or about the 20th June 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 to 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.
“COUNT 4 – That you Ali Samson Ofoma And Okechukwu Gabriel Charles and Others now at Large, male adult on or about 20th June 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 to commit an act to wit; importation of firearms, ammunitions on board a Maersk Vigo Ship with a bill of lading number 238921355 in a container number MAEU-9165396 without the requisite license or authority and thereby you committed an offence contrary to section 18 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 27 (a) (iii) of the same Act.”
