Details of how illegal arms importers bribed customs officers at the Apapa Port N1.4m in order to prevent the search of the container by them have been revealed. In an eight-count charge filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation against the accused at the Federal High Court, Lagos, he alleged that the accused: Mahmoud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Salihu Danjuma and Matthew Okoye who is said to be at large offered N1.4m as bribe to customs officers to prevent them from checking the container containing illegal arms imported from Turkey.
Two of the five persons, Oscar Okafor and Donatus Achinulo have, however, informed the court of their intention to change their pleas from “not guilty” to “guilty.” The defendants, through their new lawyers, made the call today, Monday, September 25, before Justice Ayokunle Faji. The Like us on: facebook: blueprint.ng twitter: @blueprintngr instagram: @blueprintNiapplication was made orally by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), representing Okafor and Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN), representing Achinulo.
However, the judge directed the defendants to notify the Attorney General of the Federation of their intention to have their plea changed. He then adjourned the matter to today September 26 for the continuation of trial. The defendants were arraigned on June 14 by the AGF on an eight-count charge along with one Mahmoud Hassan, Salihu Danjuma and Matthew Okoye. On arraignment, they all pleaded not guilty to the all the allegations including unlawful important of 661 pump-action rifles into Nigeria. Faji denied them bail on the ground that the gravity of the charges leveled against them were enormous. In the charges, the AGF said the defendants imported 661 pump-action rifles from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.
