Court Remands 2 Men Over Illegal Removal Of Container From Customs’ Warehouse

Two men, Abdulmalik Ojora and Sunday Ejide, were ordered to be remanded at the Ikoyi Center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), for alleged illegal removal of container from a Custom’s bonded warehouse, by a Lagos Federal High Court.

The two defendants were arraigned before the court on a six count-charge of conspired, felony; forgery, uttering of Customs’ documents and illegal removal of a 1X40ft Container Number MRSU 477004/8.

The two defendants, according to the prosecutors, Mr. Ereh David and Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, allegedly committed the offences on July 2, 2024.

The prosecutors told the court that the two defendants and others now at large, on the mentioned date, while armed with altered and forged Customs documents, entered Sifax Bonded warehouse, located at Ijora, Lagos, and illegally removed the container.

The two men alleged illegal acts, according to the prosecution contravened Sections 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria 2004. And section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria 2004.

And Sections 231(a); 231(b); 235(c) and 235(d) of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.

The two defendants however denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Based on their not guilty plea, the lead prosecutor, Mr. Ereh, asked the court for a trial date, while also urged the court to remand them in the custody of the NCoS, pending the conclusion of the charges against them

But Mrs. M. O. Kala and Chukwu Onuora, lawyers to the first and second respectfully, after they failed in convincing the court to admit their clients to bail due to their failure to file proper  applications, asked the court for a short date, to hear their clients’ applications for bail.

Consequently, Justice Ogazi, adjourned the matter to July 17, for hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.

The judge however, ordered that the two defendants be remanded in the correctional centre, till the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

Counts One, three and six of the charge against the defendants read: “that you Abdulmalik Ojora ‘M’ and Sunday Ejide ‘M’ and others (now at large) on or about 2nd July, 2024 at Sifax Bonded Terminal, Ijora, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspired together to commit a felony to wit; illegal removal of a 1X40ft Container Number MRSU 477004/8 without lawful authority and thereby committed an offense Contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.