By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Senior Correspondent
The scheduled arraignment of five persons and three companies by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) before a Federal High Court Lagos over alleged smuggling of 36 containers stuffed with truck heads and other items out of Apapa Port without payment of import duty, was stalled on Tuesday March 13 due to absence of some of the accused persons in court.
Consequently Justice Muslim Sule Hassan in whose court the accused persons were to be arraigned, adjourned the matter till April 30 for arraignment.
The Nigeria Custom Service has in a three-count criminal charge against the accused persons alleged that five persons namely;Ifeanyi Anakweze, Chibuzor Ogamba, Biolatiri Peter, Chief Onwumere Festus and Jude Wilfred who is said to be at large, smuggled out the said containers out of Apapa Port.
The three companies are; Prissy Investment Limited, Vickchen Nigeria Limited, and Aulic Bonded Terminal/Logistics.
However, due to absence of three of the accused namely; Ifeanyi Anakweze, Jude Wilfred and Aulic Bonded Terminals, the arraignment could not go on
In view of the development, the prosecutor, Mr. A. B. Shehu, prayed the court to grant short adjournment to enable him bring all the accused, including the absentees before the court.
His prayer was granted by the court.
In charge numbered FHC/C/48c/18, the NCS alleged that the accused persons, of various addresses, had on or about June 30, 2017, conspired among themselves in an attempt to evade Duty, diverted 36 units of 40 containers, which was imported on Bill of Lading number MSCUUYG526117,MSCUYG543294,and GOSUSHH30113433.
The prosecution further alleged in the charge that the accused persons knowingly made false declaration as to the 23 units of Hovo Truck Sino dump said to be contained in 36 units of 40 feet containers imported
According to the prosecutor (Shehu) the offences are contrary to and punishable under
Sections 47(1), 166, and 161(1)(a)(3) of the Customs and Excise Management Act Cap. 45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
