A Federal High Court in Lagos will on April 30 deliver judgment in the case of an Iranian and a Nigerian, charged with importation of firearms and explosives to Nigeria.
Azim Aghajani, an Iranian, and Ali Jega, a Nigerian, are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on the offence, to which they had pleaded not guilty.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke, on Monday, set the judgement date, after counsel to the prosecution and defence adopted their written addresses.
A Federal High Court in Lagos will on April 30 deliver judgment in the case of an Iranian and a Nigerian, charged with importation of firearms and explosives to Nigeria.
Azim Aghajani, an Iranian, and Ali Jega, a Nigerian, are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on the offence, to which they had pleaded not guilty.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke, on Monday, set the judgement date, after counsel to the prosecution and defence adopted their written addresses.
Before the adjournment, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), counsel to the first accused, informed the court that he had filed a written address since Jan. 31 and had served it on the other parties.
Uche adopted the address, urging the court to dismiss the charge against the first accused and acquit him.
Mr Ali Yahuri, counsel to the second accused, also informed the court of his written address filed on Jan. 31.
He said his address was strictly on points of law and urged the court to dismiss the charges against his client.
Yahuri, adopting his written address, told the court that the prosecution had failed to prove its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Responding, the prosecutor, Mrs Olufumilayo Fatunde, acknowledged service of the written addresses of defence counsel and told the court that she had also filed and served her own address on the defence.
Fatunde urged the court to convict the accused persons as charged, noting that the offence was one that should not be treated lightly.
She also urged the court to order that the 13 by 20 feet container, which conveyed the weapons, should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The accused were arraigned on March 7, 2011.
The prosecutor had told the court that the accused were apprehended by Customs officers on July 17, 2010, for illegally importing a 13 feet by 20 feet container loaded with arms, ammunition, bombs, explosives and rockets.
He alleged that the accused had also made a false declaration in their bill of lading, that the container contained 'glass wool', and pallet of stones, contrary to Section 161 of the Custom and Excise Management Act, 2004.
The prosecutor said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 3, 14, 18, and 47 of the Firearms (special provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Though they pleaded not guilty, the accused were remanded by the court as the judge said the charges "touched on national security".
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