A Federal High Court in Lagos State sentenced two businessmen, Ifeuwa Christ, and Ayogu James, for the unlawful importation of 1,570 pump action rifles into the country.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa, who presided over the case, sentenced the defendants to two years in prison and ordered them to pay a fine of N1 million on each of the eight counts they faced.

The judge delivered the verdict based on a plea bargain agreement reached between the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the defendants’ counsel, Yakubu Galadima.

The defendants, along with their company, Great James Oil and Gas Limited, were originally arraigned in 2018 before Justice Salisu Saidu on charges including conspiracy, unlawful importation of firearms, forgery, and uttering of customs’ import documents.

Julius Ajakaiye, the late prosecutor, had outlined that the offences were contrary to and punishable under specific sections of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Upon their initial arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty, and Justice Saidu ordered their remand in prison custody due to the serious nature of the charges related to national security.

Following Justice Saidu’s retirement, the case was reassigned to Justice Mohammed Liman, who later transferred to a different court jurisdiction.

Subsequently, Justice Lewis-Alagoa took over the case afresh.

During their re-arraignment before Justice Lewis-Alagoa, the defendants changed their plea to guilty after expressing their intention to enter into a plea bargain.

The plea bargain agreement, endorsed by the defendants and the new prosecutor, Mrs. Aderonke Imana, recommended a jail term of one year with effect from the date of arrest on all counts to run concurrently.

On Monday, April 22, the defendants formally changed their plea to guilty based on the plea bargain agreement.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Lewis-Alagoa considered that the defendants were first-time offenders and had spent three years in custody.

He therefore sentenced each defendant to two years imprisonment on each of the eight counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.