By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka (Senior Correspondent)
A Federal High Court, Lagos presided over by Justice Muslim Sule Hassan today (Friday), granted bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum to one Oliver Nwodo, a Lagos-based hotelier docked before the court by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos, on charges bordering on illegal possession of firearms.
Oliver Nwodo was arraigned on November, 2017, on two counts charge of unlawful possession of firearms comprising two pump action guns and 400 cartridges without lawful authority, and could not give satisfactory explanation of the said items found on him to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
During his arraignment, FCIID had alleged in charge No FHC L/339c/2017, that the defendant was arrested on August 22, 2017, at Alaba International Market, Lagos, with two pump action guns marked 9266 and 7061, and 400 cartridges.
The prosecutor Morufu Animashaun told the court that the offences allegedly committed by the defendant are contrary to and punishable under Section 3(1) of the firearms Act. Cap. R11, and Section 428 of the Criminal Code Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following his plea of not guilty, the prosecutor applied to court for a trial date, and prayed the court to remand the accused in prisons custody, pending the determination of the case.
However, Nwodo’s lawyer, M. Y. Ogundele, informed the court of the defendant’s bail application. He therefore urged the court for a date to hear the application.
Ruling on the submissions of both parties, Justice Hassan, ordered that the accused person be remanded in prisons custody, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
At the resumed hearing of the defendant’s bail application on Friday January 12, Justice Hassan in his ruling on the application stated that in granting the bail, court conceded to submissions made by his lawyers.
Consequently, the defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum.
The trial judge ordered that the surety, must be a landed property owner in Lagos state, who must also show to court evidence of three years tax payment.
He further ordered the surety to deposit the land title document and his or her two recent passport photographs with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), and to also sworn to means of livelihood; while the defendant was ordered to deposit his two recent passport photograph and international passport with the court’s DCR.
The defendant was ordered to be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms, while the matter is adjourned till March 1, for trial.
