Two suspected smugglers have been arraigned before a federal high court sitting in Abeokuta for attacking operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service with charms and horsewhip.
The duo were alleged to have connived and inflicted physical injuries on officers from the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Ikeja Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service while operating around Igbogila in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State on the 21st of February, 2023.
The prosecuting counsel, Mrs Vivian Aigbadon said the accused persons, Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili were arraigned on a three Count Charge bordering on assault, illegal importation of 37 bags of foreign parboiled rice, as well as unlawful possession of same contrabands without the payment of the stipulated Customs’ Duties.
In a plea before the court, the defense counsel, O.O Oyedele said the accused had sustained live – threatening injuries resulting from the gun wound they had during the fracas with the anti -smuggling operatives and prayed the court to grant them bail on health grounds.
The presiding judge, Justice Justice Adefunmilayo Demi-Ajayi who ordered that the accused persons should be remanded at a Correctional Services Centre within the court’s jurisdiction had adjourned ruling on their bail applications till the 30th of this month.
Justice Demi – Ajayi also adjourned ruling till the 24th of May, 2023, for the bail applications of three other suspected smugglers who were brought before her last Week.
The accused, Ismail Shaibu Kolo, Jimoh Yakubu and Abdullahi Muazu had reportedly conspired to forge the documents of Nigerian Customs Service.
When the matter came up for mentioning, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs Aigbadon had opposed the bail applications of the accused on the ground that they were likely to tamper with the ongoing Customs’ investigations, particularly when other members of the smuggling syndicate were still at large.
