A Lagos high court has sentenced an Iranian Azim Aghajani who was accused of importing sophisticated arms and ammunition into Nigeria. Aghajani was arrested when the discovery was made in concealed containers at a Lagos port by the Nigerian Customs Service in October 2010. Rockets and explosives were said to be hidden in 13 containers of building materials.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke who presided over the trial found the accused guilty and sentenced him and his Nigerian collaborator Usman Abbas Jega to 5 years in prison. The judge stated that “the men were said to have, without licence, been in control of bombs and grenade categorized as prohibited firearms under Item 4 of Part 1 of the Schedule to the Firearms Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and contrary to Section 3 of the Constitution.” The accused were also said to be in control of firearms without licence.

A Lagos high court has sentenced an Iranian Azim Aghajani who was accused of importing sophisticated arms and ammunition into Nigeria. Aghajani was arrested when the discovery was made in concealed containers at a Lagos port by the Nigerian Customs Service in October 2010. Rockets and explosives were said to be hidden in 13 containers of building materials.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke who presided over the trial found the accused guilty and sentenced him and his Nigerian collaborator Usman Abbas Jega to 5 years in prison. The judge stated that “the men were said to have, without licence, been in control of bombs and grenade categorized as prohibited firearms under Item 4 of Part 1 of the Schedule to the Firearms Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and contrary to Section 3 of the Constitution.” The accused were also said to be in control of firearms without licence.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Customs Services discovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in October 2010 after a detailed inspection of the containers at the port. Security operatives thereafter arrested the suspects and charged them to court.

by Henry Johnson

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Iranian sentenced 5 years for arms importation to Nigeria