10 Charged in major illegal arms importation bust

The Federal Government has filed court charges against ten people who were connected to the unauthorised importation of ammunition and firearms.

They were taken into custody on suspicion of being involved in the recent seizure of weapons and ammunition at Onne Port, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) found the banned guns, which were numbered 844 and 112, along with 500 cartridge rounds. The objects were hidden in plumbing supplies in an MAEU-9165396-2 container.

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 are listed as defendants in the four-count accusation marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/463/2024.

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, an organisation within the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), filed the charge on September 4 on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The suspects are charged with violating section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 by allegedly bringing into Nigeria 844 illegal guns and 112, 500 rounds of cartridges hidden in plumbing supplies in a container with the number MAEU-9165396 on June 20, 2024 at Onne in Port Harcourt.

Along with altering a Bill of Lading from Ola Gold Maratine Services to Dan Autos Limited, they are also accused of diverting the container’s movement from West African Container Terminal to WAX Logistics Limited in order to conceal the importation of weapons and ammunition that are prohibited by section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.