By Ado Oyeyemi
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has remanded three men over their alleged involvement in the unlawful importation of pump action rifles into Nigeria.
The suspects, Kenneth Mbonu, Kenneth Agwu and Choima Onuoha, were ordered to be held in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service for 15 days by Justice Friday Ogazi on Wednesday.
The court directed that they remain in custody until September 1, 2026, when the matter will come up for a report of investigation or possible arraignment.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service in connection with firearms allegedly concealed in a container marked TEMU 184536/9.
The container reportedly arrived at the Lagos port aboard the vessel, MV VELIKA, on July 8, 2026.
Their remand followed an earlier order by Justice Ogazi committing two other suspects, Ejiogu Godson and Revert Eze, to custody over the same consignment.
The Customs Service, through its lawyers, David Ereh and Kehinde Bode Ayeni, had approached the court through an ex parte application, seeking permission to remand the three suspects while investigations continued.
Customs initially requested that the suspects be held at its Enforcement Unit at Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos, pending the completion of investigations and possible prosecution.
The agency told the court that the investigation could not be completed within the constitutionally prescribed 24 or 48 hours, stressing that the alleged offences were indictable and fell within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
It added that the suspects would be prosecuted by the Legal Unit of the Tin Can Island Area Command if investigators established a prima facie case against them.
In an affidavit filed in support of the application, a litigation officer, N. Akpan, said the investigation began after Customs received intelligence concerning the container.
According to the affidavit, the Customs Area Controller directed officers to monitor the container after it arrived on July 8.
The container was subsequently examined on July 13, during which Customs officials allegedly discovered firearms and ammunition hidden inside.
The discovery reportedly led to the arrest of the three suspects and the commencement of a wider investigation into the alleged illegal importation.
The agency further alleged that information obtained from the suspects led investigators to other individuals suspected of forging and manipulating Customs records and documents allegedly used to facilitate the unlawful removal of the container.
Customs said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other suspects and trace additional evidence connected to the alleged offence.
The agency also told the court that the three defendants had made statements under caution, which it described as voluntary and confessional.
It argued that releasing them at that stage could compromise the investigation, claiming they might help other suspects evade arrest or interfere with efforts to recover crucial evidence.
Customs therefore urged the court to grant the 15 day remand order to enable investigators to conclude their work and determine whether the suspects should be prosecuted.
After hearing the application, Justice Ogazi ordered that Mbonu, Agwu and Onuoha be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
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The judge adjourned the case until September 1 for the prosecution to present an investigation report or proceed with the possible arraignment of the suspects.
