Court Remands 2 Men For Alleged Illegal Firearm Importation

Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded two men, Ejiogu Godson and Robert Eze, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service for 15 days on charges of smuggling high-calibre firearms into Nigeria.

Justice Ogazi granted the order after entertaining an ex parte application filed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), seeking to detain the suspects while investigations into the alleged offence are carried out.

The application, marked FHC/LAG/CR/601/2026, was moved by the lawyers to the Customs Service, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, who informed the judge that the application was filed under Sections 294 and 295 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Section 6 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Order 46 Rule 4(d) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules.

Mrs Bode-Ayeni argued that there was probable cause to detain the suspects pending the conclusion of investigations into the alleged illegal importation of firearms.

The lawyer also submitted that the application was supported by a 15-paragraph affidavit sworn to by a Customs operative, Nathaniel Akpan, along with a written address and documentary exhibits.

In the affidavit, Akpan averred that Customs officers, acting on credible intelligence, placed container TEMU 1845369 under surveillance on July 8, 2026 and that when the container was examined on July 13, officers allegedly discovered high-calibre firearms and ammunition concealed inside.

The investigator further claimed that subsequent inquiries led to the arrest of Godson and Eze, who allegedly provided information linking other individuals to the suspected forgery and manipulation of Customs documents related to the shipment.

Akpan further stated that the suspects made statements under caution, which investigators regarded as confessional, and that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other persons believed to be involved in the alleged crime.

He explained that the investigation could not reasonably be concluded within the constitutional period of 24 or 48 hours because investigators needed to travel to other jurisdictions to recover exhibits and identify additional suspects.

The Customs operative also expressed concerns that releasing the suspects at this stage could compromise the investigation, as they were allegedly aware of the whereabouts of other suspects still at large.

Akpan therefore urged the court to grant the 15-day remand order to allow investigators to complete their inquiries and to file appropriate charges for the suspects’ arraignment.

In his ruling, Justice Ogazi found the application meritorious and granted it as prayed.

The judge ordered that Godson and Eze be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service for 15 days and adjourned the matter until August 25 for a report on the investigation and potential arraignment.