DSS Docks 67-year-old farmer over unlawful firearms possession, sets trial date

The Department of the State Service, DSS, has put a 67 year old Plateau farmer, Danjuma Antu, on trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly being in possession of two locally fabricated pistols firearms capable of discharging 9mm ammunition calibre.

The accused person was arraigned before Justice Ekerete Udofot Akpan for allegedly committing the offence on 27″ June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of the Court.

He was said to have possessed the firearms without licence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

Besides, the secret police accused the defendant of also being in possession of three live rounds of 9mm ammunition, an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

The aged farmer was further accused of knowingly rendering material support for the commission of acts of terrorism in Plateau State, by transporting two locally fabricated pistols firearms capable of discharging 9mm ammunition calibre to Plateau State.

Following his not guilty plea and the success of his bail application, Justice Akpan admitted him to bail in the sum N200m with two sureties in the like sum.

The sureties must be resident in Abuja, swear to an affidavit of means, own fully developed property to residential status and deposit original title documents of the property to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.

Both the accused person and the sureties were also directed to make their bank account statement and their international passport to the Court.

While the accused person must not travel out of the country without permission of the Court, he and his sureties are to deposit their two recent passport photograph with the Court.

Justice Akpan ordered that the accused be remanded at the DSS custody pending the completion of the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, a full scale trial has been fixed for June 25.

The 5-Count charge are; COUNT ONE – ‘That you, Danjuma Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, Adult, male, sometime on 27″ June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession Two (2) locally fabricated pistols firearms capable of discharging 9mm ammunition caliber, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

COUNT TWO “That you, Danjuma Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, Adult, male, sometime on 27” June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession Three (3) live rounds of 9mm ammunition, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

COUNT THREE; “That you, Danjuma Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, Adult, male, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession One (1) iwe round of 8mm ammunition, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

COUNT FOUR; “That you, Danjuma Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, Adult, male, sometime on 27” June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without licence, did have in your possession for sale and transfer of Two (2) focally . fabniated pistols firearms capable of discharging 9mm ammunition calibre, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

COUNT FIVE; “That you, Danjuma Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, Adult, mate, sometime on 27” June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Piateau State, within the ‘jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly render material support for the commission of acts of terrorism in Plateau.State, by transporting Two (2) locally fabricated pistols firearms capable of discharging 9mm ammunition calibre, Three (3) live rounds of 9mm ammunition and One (1) live round of 8mm ammunition and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 (1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.