Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arraigned a woman, Amaka Marcus, before the Federal High Court Lagos for unlawful dealing in and possessing pangolin scales weighing 7,200 kilograms.
Marcus was docked before Justice Yellim Bogoro by operatives of the Customs Service on allegations of conspiracy and dealing in and possessing prohibited animal scales.
The pangolin is a specimen of an endangered wildlife species, strictly prohibited under the First Schedule of the Endangered Species Act.
The prosecutor, Mrs Vivian Aigbadon, had informed the court that the defendant had conspired with others currently at large to commit the offences on August 8, 2024.
Aigbadon also claimed that the defendant and her accomplices committed the offences at Iperu in Ogun State and Ikeja in Lagos. During the arrest, Amaka was found in possession of 179 sacks of pangolin scales.
She further maintained that the offences violated sections 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 201 are punishable under Section 7(4) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based on her plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) until the case is resolved.
However, the defence lawyer, Blessing Awachuo, informed the court that she had filed a bail application on behalf of her clients and that it had been served to the prosecutor. She then proceeded to move the bail application.
After considering the bail application, Justice Bogoro granted bail to the defendant under specific terms and conditions.
The judge then adjourned the matter to March 18, 2025, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Constitution Service pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
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