Arms importation: FG calls 6th witness

Posted by admin Latest Politics Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

THE federal government, on Wednesday, called its sixth witness in the ongoing trial of two accused persons, an Iranian, Azim Aghajani, and a Nigerian, Alli Abass Jega, currently standing trial for alleged importation of arms into Nigeria last year.

The duo are standing trial before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of a Federal High Court in Lagos on a four-count charge of illegal importation of arms and ammunition, comprising bombs, grenades, and rockets etc into Nigeria.

The government had, among other things, alleged that the accused imported “without licence” 13 container loads of firearms and ammunition into Nigeria from Iran, contrary to S1. (14) of the Firearms Act, Cap MI7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution, represented by the acting director of legal services of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Olufemi Fatunde, called a legal manager in a shipping company in Lagos, Mrs Benedicta Aitalogu, as its sixth witness.

Fatunde also informed the court that she still had four more witnesses to call before closing its case to pave the way for the defence to open its case.

In her testimony, Aitalegu , who worked with a shipping company, CMA CGM Delmark Nigeria Ltd, narrated how the allegedly imported 13-containers of firearms were seized by the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

She said “In October 2010, the manager of the CMA CGM company received a call from the SSS above the containers.

“The man came back to say the containers have been intercepted by the SSS officials because they contained arms and ammunition with building materials placed on top”

The witness added that the bill of lading of the imported containers had the name of one of the accused, Abbas Jega, on it as the “consignee”. She also said no final place of delivery was written on the bill of lading apart from Apapa Port.

After hearing the witness giving her testimony-in-chief, the judge adjourned the matter till June 27 and 28 for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.

The accused pleaded “not guilty” to all the counts in the new charge.

-Tribunewp_posts