Arms import suspects’ trial begins
The Federal Government has called its first prosecution witness in the trial of two men accused of complicity in last year’s importation of 13 containers loaded with firearms.
The suspects, Azim Aghajani, an Iranian; and Ali Jega, a Nigerian; were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on February 1.
The witness, Charles Okpekor, an operative of the State Security Service told the court how the suspects were arrested.
Okpekor said he led a team of SSS operatives to the Iranian Embassy in Abuja on November 13, to invite Azim for questioning and subsequently obtained a statement from him.
He said he was also part of another team that went to Jega’s office on October 26 at Suite 6B, Mangal Plaza in Abuja, to invite him for questioning.
Led by the lead prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Fatunde, the witness tendered four of the seven statements made by Jega.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke noted discrepancies in the date of one of the statements tendered.
The judge noted that, against the witness’s claim that Jega’s initial statement was dated October 26, it actually bore two dates – October 26 and 27, 2010, a development that prompted the judge to query the prosecution’s diligence.
The trial resumes today.
The Federal Government has called its first prosecution witness in the trial of two men accused of complicity in last year’s importation of 13 containers loaded with firearms.
The suspects, Azim Aghajani, an Iranian; and Ali Jega, a Nigerian; were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on February 1.
The witness, Charles Okpekor, an operative of the State Security Service told the court how the suspects were arrested.
Okpekor said he led a team of SSS operatives to the Iranian Embassy in Abuja on November 13, to invite Azim for questioning and subsequently obtained a statement from him.
He said he was also part of another team that went to Jega’s office on October 26 at Suite 6B, Mangal Plaza in Abuja, to invite him for questioning.
Led by the lead prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Fatunde, the witness tendered four of the seven statements made by Jega.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke noted discrepancies in the date of one of the statements tendered.
The judge noted that, against the witness’s claim that Jega’s initial statement was dated October 26, it actually bore two dates – October 26 and 27, 2010, a development that prompted the judge to query the prosecution’s diligence.
The trial resumes today.
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