Iran Nigeria Arms Traffickers Aquitted, Rearrested

ABUJA - An Abuja Magistrate’s Court yesterday discharged and acquitted Aliyu Wamakko and Mohammed Umar who were accused of importing arms from Iran into Nigeria.

The accused, who are clearing and forwarding agents, were accused of using a clearing agency, Jedo Clearing and Forwarding, to ship the arms into the country in 2010.

The Magistrate, Hafsat Soso also struck out the suit against two other accused in the suit, Abbas Usman and one Iranian, Azim Aghajani on the request of the prosecutor, Mr. Moses Idakwo, that the case be re-assigned to a Federal High Court.

Usman and Aghajani, who were earlier discharged by the Magistrate’s court, were re-arrested and taken back to custody, pending their prosecution at the higher court.

The four persons were arrested and charged to court in October 2010 for illegal importation of arms and ammunition to Nigeria.

Counsel to the second accused who was discharged, Mr. Chuma Ajaegbu, described the case as a fair trial, saying that his client was acquitted due to lack of evidence and involvement in the shipment.

The UN inspection team, which visited the country last week, commended Nigeria for the manner by which it handled the issue and recommended it as a model to other West African nations.

The Rest @ Nigerian Observer News