Lagos court remands three over alleged importation of pump-action rifles

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of three men arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, over an alleged attempt to unlawfully import pump-action rifles into the country.

Justice Friday Ogazi directed that Kenneth Mbonu, Kenneth Agwu and Choima Onuoha be held in custody for 15 days to allow Customs investigators to complete their inquiries into the alleged offence.

The judge ordered that the suspects remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until September 1, 2026, when the court will receive an update on the investigation or consider their possible arraignment.

The case centres on a container marked TEMU 184536/9, which reportedly arrived at a Nigerian port aboard the vessel MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026. Customs officials allegedly discovered firearms and ammunition concealed inside the container during an examination conducted five days later.

The latest remand order follows an earlier directive by Justice Ogazi concerning two other suspects, Ejiogu Godson and Revert Eze, who were also detained in connection with the same consignment.

Customs, represented by its lawyers, David Ereh and Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, approached the court through an ex parte application, seeking authority to keep the three suspects in custody while investigations continued.

The application was filed under relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Federal High Court Rules.

The agency had initially requested permission to keep the suspects at the Enforcement Unit of the Tin Can Island Port in Apapa pending the completion of the investigation and any subsequent prosecution.

Customs told the court that investigators could not complete the inquiry within the constitutionally stipulated 24- or 48-hour period, noting that the alleged offences were indictable and fell within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

The agency also informed the court that its Legal Unit at the Tin Can Island Area Command would prosecute the suspects if the investigation established a prima facie case against them.

In an affidavit filed in support of the application, a litigation officer, N. Akpan, said the investigation began after Customs received intelligence concerning the container.

According to the affidavit, the Customs Area Controller subsequently instructed officers attached to the Enforcement Unit to monitor the container after its arrival on July 8.

Akpan stated that during the examination of the container on July 13, officers allegedly found firearms and ammunition hidden inside, leading to the arrest of the three suspects.

The investigation, he added, was subsequently expanded after information allegedly provided by the suspects pointed investigators towards other individuals suspected of involvement in the alleged forgery and manipulation of Customs records used to facilitate the removal of the container.

Customs said efforts were underway to locate the other individuals allegedly connected to the case while investigators continued to gather evidence.

The agency further told the court that the three suspects had made statements under caution, which it described as voluntary and confessional.

It argued that releasing them at the current stage could undermine the investigation, alleging that they might alert other suspects, frustrate attempts to make further arrests or interfere with the recovery of relevant evidence.

Customs, therefore, asked the court to grant the 15-day remand period to enable investigators to complete the process and determine whether prosecution should follow.

After considering the submissions, Justice Ogazi granted the application and ordered that Mbonu, Agwu and Onuoha remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service for 15 days.

The matter was adjourned until September 1, 2026, for a report on the progress of the investigation or possible arraignment of the suspects.