Court Remands Two Suspected Smugglers For Attacking Customs With Charms

A Federal High Court sitting in Oke-Mosan Area of Abeokuta State has ordered the remands of two suspected smugglers in prison custody for allegedly attacking some operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja Zone “A” Federal Operations Unit.

The suspects, Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili were accused of attacking the customs anti-smuggling team with “assorted charms and horse whips.”

They were arraigned Tuesday on a three-count charge bordering on assault, illegal importation of 37 bags of foreign rice, as well as unlawful possession of the same contraband without paying stipulated customs duties.

In suit number FHC/AB/15C/2023, the custom’s prosecutor, Vivian Aigbadon, said the offences were committed on February 21, 2023 at Owoyele axis of Igbogila, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Aigbadon said the suspects had connived and inflicted physical injuries on Messrs Joseph and Echem while performing their statutory functions as anti-smuggling operatives.

The counsel told Justice AA Demi-Ajayi that the offences contradicted Section 11 (a), Cap “C45” of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), saying such is punishable under the law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, the defence counsel, O. O. Oyedele, prayed the court to grant his clients bail on health grounds.

Oyedele told the court that his clients sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the bullet wound earlier sustained during the fracas with the anti-smuggling operatives.

But, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centres within the court’s jurisdiction, while adjourning ruling on their bail applications till May 30.
DailyPost