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Tag: Donatus Achinulo

  • DSS chained, threatened me with gun – Ex- Customs officer

    DSS chained, threatened me with gun – Ex- Customs officer

    A retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mahmud Hassan, told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly chained and threatened him with a gun in bid to force him to confess to a crime.

    His lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, alleged that his client was forced to make a statement at gun point.

    Hassan was arraigned along with four others before Justice Ayokunle Faji for allegedly importing arms and ammunition, including 661 pump action rifles, without license.

    DSS Head of Investigation, Mr. Wale Odu, while testifying on Tuesday, claimed that Hassan confessed to conspiring with others to use his company, Hassan Trading Limited, to import the arms.

    But, Galadima objected to the tendering of Hassan’s statement, saying it was not obtained voluntarily.

    The judge ordered a trial within trial to determine the statement’s trustworthiness.

    Testifying in the trial within trial on Wednesday, Odu said neither he nor his colleagues forced Hassan to make a statement.

    “I was directed to investigate the case and I interacted with the second defendant (Hassan). The interaction was always friendly. We did it under a very conducive atmosphere, in an air-conditioned and well-furnished room.

    “We served him good food. He ate thrice daily, very good and balanced diet. Every medical complaint he had, even headache, was taken care of by our doctors. There was no form of duress, coercion or pointing of gun at the defendant,” he said.

    Odu said Hassan explained his and others’ roles in the importation “without any form of coercion.”

    “After the interaction, the second defendant volunteered to reduce our interaction to writing. He was cautioned. The interaction was video recorded,” he added.

    While cross-examining Odu, Galadima claimed that DSS threatened his client.

    “I put it to you that the second defendant was always in chains,” the lawyer told Odu.

    The witness replied: “No. Our interaction with the witness was always friendly. The issue of being in chain doesn’t arise. Under my supervision, the defendant was never chained.”

    Galadima further alleged: “You threatened to kill the second defendant during the interview.”

    Odu also denied the allegation, saying it would be “unprofessional” for him or his men to threaten a suspect with a gun.

    “Our investigation is scientific. There’s a process. My interaction with him was without any threat,” he said.

    Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Mathew Okoye (at large) and Salihu Danjuma were arraigned on June 14 last year for illegally importing double barrel short guns, pump action rifles and single barrel shot guns (firearms) without authorisation.

  • Judge orders trial-within-trial in illegal arms importation case

    Judge orders trial-within-trial in illegal arms importation case

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the truthfulness of statements made by suspected importers of illegal arms and ammunition, including 661 pump action rifles.

    Justice Ayokunle Faji made the order after the Department of State Services ( DSS ) Head of Investigation Mr. Wale Odu testified.

    The Federal Government arraigned Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Mahmud Hassan, Mathew Okoye (at large) and Salihu Danjuma  last June 14 for illegally importing double barrel shortguns, pump action rifles and single barrel shotguns (firearms) without authorisation.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Julius Ajaikaye, Odu said he took over the case from the Nigeria Customs Services last February.

    He said he interrogated Hassan and Okafor, and that Hassan told him that he was the sole director of Hassan Trade Nigeria Limited, which is the consignee and importer of the arms.

    “He and Okafor had several meetings at Southern Sun Hotel, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, where he (Okafor) agreed to collect N4million for the clearance of the container. In one of the meetings, Okafor told him that he was charging N4million because the container was carrying pump action rifles.”

    The witness said it was Customs officers’ refusal to collect N1million bribe that led to 100 percent inspection of the container.

    Odu said Okafor also confessed that he participated in loading the container in Turkey with Okoye, and that he handed over a falsified Bill of Lading to Hassan for clearance in Nigeria.

    Hassan’s lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, raised objection to the tendering of his client’s statement. He claimed that statement was not obtained voluntarily.

    Other defence counsel Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) Dr Paul Ananaba (SAN) also aligned themselves with Galadima’s submission.

    The defendants were arraigned on nine counts of conspiracy to illegally import prohibited firearms, “uttering” of forged documents, bribery and importation of prohibited goods.

    All the defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.

    Count one of the charge said the defendants “on or about January 21, 2017, at Apapa, Lagos conspired together to illegally import into Nigeria 661 pump actions rifles.”

    The prosecution said they brought the arms from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

    Justice Faji adjourned till tomorrow for trial-within-trial.

  • ‘illegal’ arms importation, bribery: FG opposes suspects’ bail

    ‘illegal’ arms importation, bribery: FG opposes suspects’ bail

    The Federal Government Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos not to grant bail to five men who were arraigned for importing arms and ammunition without authorisation.

    The defendants – Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Mathew Okoye (at large) and Salihu Danjuma – were accused of illegally importing double barrel short guns, pump action rifles and single barrel shotguns (firearms).

    They were arraigned on nine counts of conspiracy to illegally import prohibited firearms, “uttering” of forged documents, bribery and importation of prohibited goods.

    Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) told the court that releasing the defendants on bail would be a risk.

    Prosecuting counsel K.A. Fagbemi, who represented the AGF, opposed the bail applications.

    According to him, Okoye was still at large, adding that it was not in the defendants’ interest to be released on bail.

    Defence counsel – Yakubu Galadima, Godwin Okaka, Olumide Oyewole and Adamu Ibrahim – said the defendants would not jump bail.

    Besides, Oyewole said his client was ill and needed medical treatment. He exhibited a medical report issued by the Isolo General Hospital.

    Count one of the charge said the defendants “on or about January 21, 2017, at Apapa, Lagos conspired together to illegally import into Nigeria 661 pump actions rifles.”

    The defendants, who were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    The prosecution said they brought the arms from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

    The Federal Government said the defendants violated Section 98A (1)(b) of the Criminal Code Act by corruptly offering bribe of N400,000 and N1million to public officials on two occasions to present a search of the container.

    The defendants allegedly forged documents, such as a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, in a bid to deceive the officials.

    The alleged offences contravene sections 1(2)(c), 1(14) (a)(i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

    Justice Faji adjourned for ruling on the bail applications. The trial will begin on September 12.

     

  • Five arraigned for illegal arms importation, bribery

    Five arraigned for illegal arms importation, bribery

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on Wednesday arraigned five men for bringing arms and ammunition into the country without authorisation.

    They were accused of illegally importing double barrel short guns, pump action rifles and single barrel shot guns (firearms).

    Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Mathew Okoye (at large) and Salihu Danjuma were arraigned on nine- count charge of conspiracy to illegally import prohibited firearms, altering of forged documents, bribery and importation of prohibited goods.

    Count one of the charge said the defendants “on or about January 21, 2017, at Apapa, Lagos, conspired together to illegally import into Nigeria 661 pump actions rifles.”

    The defendants, who were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji at the Federal High Court in Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecution said they brought the arms from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

    The Federal Government said the defendants violated Section 98A (1) (b) of the Criminal Code Act by corruptly offering bribe to public officials on two occasions.

    It said Hassan offered N400,000 to Federal Operative Unit’s Examination Officers on January 21 at Apapa to prevent “100 per cent search” of the 40 feet container numbered PONU 825914/3, which they knew contained prohibited goods.

    The prosecution said Hassan, on the same day, “corruptly gave the sum of N1million to government officials at the Apapa Port through one Danjuma Abdullahi in order to prevent search of your container by Customs officials which you knew contained 661 illegally imported pump actions rifles.”

    The defendants allegedly forged documents, such as a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, in a bid to deceive the officials.

    According to the prosecution, in order to evade payment of Customs duty, the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on January 9, 2017, claiming it was issued in Shanghai, China.

    The Federal Government also alleged that the defendants “illegally imported into Nigeria double barrel shot guns, pump action rifles and single barrel shot guns (firearms) between 2012 and 2016).”

    The alleged offences contravene sections 1(2)(c), 1(14) (a)(i) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014 and punishable under same.

    Justice Faji ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison and adjourned till September 12 for trial.