Justice Chukwujekwu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded a 30-year-old man, Mayowa Ogunjimi, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for unlawful possession of a firearm and live cartridges.
Ogunjimi, who was arraigned before the court on a three-count charge by the Department of State Services (DSS), will remain behind bars until November 6, when his trial will commence.
The prosecutor, Moses Bajela, had earlier informed the judge that the defendant was arrested along the Lekki-Ajah Road in Lagos, with a locally made pistol and three live cartridges while travelling on a public bus.
Bajela had claimed that the defendant was apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during a stop-and-search operation and subsequently handed over to the DSS for further interrogation and prosecution.
In his extra-judicial statement to the DSS, the defendant had claimed to be a member of the Gani Adams faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).
He alleged that he purchased the pistol from a friend, known as “Solution Armani,” who is also an OPC member, for N25,000, and the three live cartridges for N2000 each.
Mayowa explained that he used the pistol for self-defence during land-grabbing operations in various parts of Lagos and Ogun states.
He described two types of operations: the first, which he called a “flushing operation,” occurs during the day with police support, who use AK-47 rifles to chase occupants off the land.
The police leave late in the evening, setting the stage for the second operation, “pindown.” During these operations, the “boys” would guard the land day and night and use their weapons primarily for self-defence against potential retaliatory attacks.
However, after he was arraigned, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Based on his plea, Bajela urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending trial.
However, because the defendant failed to file his bail application, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter to November 6 for trial.
