- Two illegal firearms importers currently being prosecuted by the Nigerian government have opted for plea bargain
- The federal government is prosecuting five people arrested for unlawful importation of 661 pump-action rifles into the country
- The duo also indicated their intentions to change their plea from not guilty to guilty
Two out of the five men being prosecuted by the federal government for unlawful importation of 661 pump-action rifles into the country have indicated their intention to enter into plea bargain with the prosecution.
Punch reports that the defendants - Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said to be at large, and Salihu Danjuma had been arraigned by the Attorney General of the Federation on June 14 before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
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NAIJ.com gathered that they had all pleaded not guilty to the eight charges pressed against them while the trial judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji, refused their bail applications in view of the gravity of the charges levelled against them.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till September 25 for trial.
However, at the resumed proceedings on Monday, September 25, the second and third defendants, Oscar Okafor and Donatus Achinulo, respectively, who had changed their lawyers, indicated their intentions to change their plea from not guilty to guilty.
The application was made orally on behalf of Okafor by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), his new lawyer, and on behalf of Achinulo by Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN).
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However, the judge directed the defendants to notify the AGF of their intention.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till September 26.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that five Nigerian men were arrested and charged to court for allegedly importing pump-action rifles into the country through the Apapa Port in Lagos.
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Source: Naij.com
ROSY CREST
Monday, 25 September 2017