Drama as rejection of lawyers stall arraignment of suspected gun runners, terrorists

An attempt by the Federal Government to arraign 10 alleged importers of firearms and ammunition and suspected terrorists was on Monday scuttled at the Federal High Court in Abuja by two of the accused persons.

The arraignment billed before Justice Emeka Nwite was scuttled due to non-availability of legal practitioners for two of the accused persons and their rejection of free legal services offered by two lawyers in court.

The ten accused persons are Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles, Kingsley Mbibi Chinasa, Oroghodo Maxwell, Akinkuade Mayowa Segun, Augustine John Elechi, Osumini Kennedy, Ajala Wahab Ojo, Faboro Oluwatimilehin and Tolulope Ogundepo.

They were accused of allegedly importing into Nigeria, prohibited 844 firearms and 112, 500 rounds of Cartridges concealed in plumbing materials in a container with number MAEU-9165396 on June 20, 2024 at Onne in Port Harcourt contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004.

They were also alleged to have altered a bill of lading of the consignment from Ola Gold Maratine Services to Dan Autos Limited and diverted the movement of the container from West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited to cover up the importation of prohibited arms and ammunition contrary to section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

In count three, Ali Samson Ofoma, Okechukwu Gabriel Charles and others at large were said to have on June 20, at Onne in Port Harcourt with intent to commit acts of terrorism, transported prohibited weapons and other dangerous substance on board Maersk Vigo Ship with a bill of lading 238921355 conveying a container number MAEU-9165396 into Nigeria.

The alleged act is said to be prejudicial to national security and in violation of ECOWAS Convention on small arms and light weight weapons punishable under section 39(1) of the Terrorism Prevention Prohibition Act 2022.

Similarly, both Ofoma and Charles were further alleged to have on June 20 imported firearms and ammunitions on board a Maersk Vigo ship with a bill of lading number 238921355 in a container number MAEU-9165396 without requisite license or authority contrary to section 3(B) of the Firearms Act.

However, at the point of reading the charges to the ten defendants, the court discovered that the 6th and 7th defendants, Augustine John Elechi and Osumini Kennedy respectively have no legal representation as required by law.

In the drama that ensued, two legal practitioners, Deji Adeyanju and George Ogara volunteered free legal services to the two accused persons but they rejected the offers.

In compliance with the law, Justice Nwite said that it would not be proper to take the plea of the defendants in the absence of their counsel.

The judge subsequently fixed September 12 to enable the two accused persons get lawyers of their choice for their arraignment.

Justice Nwite also ordered that the ten defendants be taken to Intelligence Response Team (IRT) custody of the Nigeria Police for keep till September 12.

At the proceedings, Chioma Onuegbu, a Deputy Director, National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Lightweight Weapon, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), stood for the Federal Government.