The Nation Newspaper

Tag: illegal possession

  • Court remands tailor for ‘illegal possession of firearms’

    An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a 38-year-old tailor, Abdulrasheed Zakariyau of Magaji compound, Oke-Andi, Ilorin, the state capital, for alleged illegal possession of firearms.

    The Prosecutor, Inspector Alhassan Jubril, told the court that the case was reported on September 24 at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) office by the Squad Vehicular Patrol Team, led by Inspector Odior Victor.

    Jubril said on the same date during patrol on Fate/Water view, Sango area to check criminal activities, they intercepted a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number (Lagos) QX368LND.

    He said the rider of the motorcycle, the accused, looked suspicious and his house was searched.

    “A short Dane gun and a locally-made pistol loaded with one live cartridge was recovered from him and when we questioned him, he could not give satisfactory account of the items recovered from him,” the prosecutor said.

    Jubril said during an investigation, the accused was discovered to be a member of a vigilance group.

    He said the type of gun recovered could not be possessed by a vigilante.

    The prosecutor said the case contravenes Section 27 (A) 1 of the Firearms Act.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Hafsat Alege, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison.

    The matter was adjourned till October 15 for further mention.

     

  • Three remanded for illegal possession of military uniforms

    An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered the remand of three men arraigned for alleged unlawful possession of army uniforms and breach of the peace.

    Magistrate Mrs. Aishat Oloyade ordered that the defendants: Ogundeji Mutiu, 31, Akeem Yekini, 26 and Isiaka Kehinde, 22, be remanded in Ilesa prisons due to the magnitude of the offence.

    Prosecutor Idoko James had the court the defendants committed the offences on July 12 in Osogbo.  He said the defendants conspired, wore army uniforms, and terrorised the public.

    Idoko said their action led to a breach of the peace.

    He said the accused assaulted DSP Adesoye Abosede, when she demanded their identities, adding they were overpowered and arrested. The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 516, 428 (d), 356, 509 and 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol.11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, assault and breach of the peace.  Defence counsel Mr. Kasianobi Nkgoke prayed the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms.

    The magistrate, however, overruled the bail application, and adjourned the case till August 2 for hearing.

  • Melaye may be charged with illegal possession of firearms

    The Police have said Senator Dino Melaye may be charged with illegal possession of firearms. Force Headquarters spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, an Assistant Superintendent, said the senator may face other charges apart from criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms. But he gave no further details.

    His words: “Outside the charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, it is very likely that there are other sundry offences relating to violent crimes that he is going to be charged with.

    “I may not be able to tell you the precise charges because it is important to ensure that we don’t jeopardize the investigation.”

    He said that while the police recognise the authority of the Senate, they will not shirk their own constitutional responsibility of investigating and/or prosecuting anyone, including high-profile personalities.

    He said: “by and large, we want to impress it on distinguished members of the Senate that the Nigeria Police Force holds the Senate and its leadership in high esteem.

    “We wish to impress on every citizen, the need to allow the rule of law and for them not to personalise and trivialise criminal matters.

    “There is need to allow the rule of law and justice and to allow the court’s judgement to prevail.”

    Asked when Melaye might be formally charged to court,  Moshood said: “I am not in a position to give you that information.

    “However, as I have earlier said, he is going to be promptly charged to court without further delay.”

  • Nigerien, others paraded for impersonation, illegal possession of firearms

    The Police in Sokoto State has confirmed the arrest of a Nigerien, Idi Abdullahi, for parading himself as a military personnel.

    Abdullahi was intercepted by a crack team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). He was found in possession of a pistol and pump action with 7 rounds of live ammunition and 76 rounds of cartridges respectively.

    Other items recovered from the suspect include an axe, two mobile phones and six SIM cards.

    The spokesman, Cordelia Nwawe, who paraded the suspect, said Abdullahi claimed to be in Sokoto for hunting, but investigation showed that such arms were not used for hunting.

    She said: “He is not for hunting, and we found him with a Kasea motorcycle, Army camouflage uniform and an international passport.

    “He claimed to have license and permission of his country to bear the arms.”

    Abdullahi said Ibrahim, a policeman in Niger Republic, bought the arms for him and obtained the license through Sule of Niamey, Niger Republic.

    The spokesman also announced the arrest of Aminu Abubakar, a.k.a Sheshe Baba, for impersonation and turning his home to a mini- police station. Sheshe, according to Nwawe was arrested on March 12. He had been on the run before now.

    She said: “We found the suspect with a police uniform which he uses to extort money from the public. Our investigation showed that he was dismissed, but now uses his uniform to carry out his activities.

    “A police shirt, sweater and a t-shirt were recovered from his home.”

    Umar Muhammad Mabera was also nabbed for impersonating Senator Abdullahi Danbaba Damboa’s aide and collecting money from parents, saying the Senator was offering 50 per cent scholarship to students.

    He works with Illela Local Government Area.

    “He has been to three schools telling students to tell their parents, who in turn gave money. He has been to Success Academy, Global Kids and Blue Crescent schools, where he issued tellers as receipt to his victims.

    “The parents reported to the police and we swung into action, leading to his arrest.

    “All suspects would be charged to court after investigations,” she added.