Anambra businessman charged to court for importing over 1,500 pump action rifles from China

ANAMBRA businessman Ifeuwa Moses Christ has been arraigned before the Lagos federal high court charged with illegally importing 1,570 pump action rifles into the country concealed in a container of ceramic washhand basins.

According to the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr Christ and others conspired among themselves between September 6 to 20, 2017 to illegally and unlawfully import a the rifles into Nigeria, through Apapa Seaport, Lagos. Ifeuwa, a resident of 1, Ifeuwa Street, Ogidi, Anambra State, was arraigned alongside one Ayogu Great James, of Plot 291, Dawaki extension, opposite Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja and Emeka Umeh Festus, also known as Amankwa, who is said to be at large.

Also, charged before the court, is an oil and gas company Great James Oil and Gas, located at 1, Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos. Arraigning the accused, prosecutor Julius Ajakaiye, informed the court that the accused loaded the said rifles in two 20 feet containers marked GESU 2555208 and CMAU 1878178.

Mr Ajakaiye, told the court that the accused and others now at large, in a bid to illegally and unlawfully bring in the weapons, altered and forged a bill of lading, issued on July 28, 2017, to read Guandong, China, instead of Istanbul, Turkey, which was written on the conveying container. He added that the accused also altered Form M, the application for import form and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report to read Guandong, China instead of Istanbul, Turkey, as a country of origin.

In addition, the accused were also alleged to have altered a forged bill of lading issued on July 28, 2017, to read 230 packages of washhand basins and W/Cs, as the content in the container used in shipping in the illegal firearms. All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Presiding judge, Justice Saliu Saidu declined to grant the defendants bail and adjourned the matter till November 20 and 21 for commencement of trial. Until then, all the defendants were remanded in prison custody.