Justice Friday Ogazi of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of two men, Ejiogu Godson and Robert Eze, who are alleged to have smuggled high-caliber firearms into the country for 15 days.
Justice Ogazi remanded the two suspects to enable the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to conclude the investigation on their alleged illegal acts and possible prosecution.
The judge made the remand order on Friday while granting a motion ex parte marked FHC/LAG/CR/601/2026, filed and moved by Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni of the legal services department of the Nigeria Customs Service, Tin-Can Island, Apapa, Lagos.
In urging the court to grant the motion ex parte, Mrs. Bode-Ayeni said that the application was pursuant to sections 294 and 295 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, section 6 of the Nigeria Customs Act 2023, Sections 6, 35(1)(c), (5), and (7)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and order 46, rule 4(d) of the Federal High Court Rules.
She had specifically informed the court that there was probable cause to remand the two suspects in custody while investigations into the alleged offenses continued.
She also informed the court that the application is supported with an affidavit of 15 paragraphs deposed to by one N. Akpan, an operative with the customs; a written address; and other documentary exhibits.
According to the affidavit supporting the application, the deponent stated that Customs officers acting on credible intelligence began monitoring container number TEMU 1845369 on July 8, 2026.
He averred that when the container was examined on July 13, officers allegedly discovered arms and ammunition concealed inside it. And that further investigations led to the arrest of the two suspects, Godson and Eze, who allegedly provided information about other persons suspected to be involved in the alleged forgery and manipulation of Customs records and documents.
The deponent stated that the suspects had made statements under caution, describing the statements as confessional. Adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other persons allegedly connected with the matter.
He further stated that the investigation could not reasonably be completed within the constitutionally prescribed 24 or 48 hours, noting that investigators needed to travel to other jurisdictions to recover exhibits and apprehend other suspects.
The deponent further stated to the court that releasing the suspects could jeopardize the investigation, alleging that they knew the whereabouts of other suspects who were still at large.
He therefore urged the court to grant the 15-day remand order in the public interest to enable investigators to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation. Adding that, upon completion of investigations, there would be a need to file formal charges for the suspects’ arraignment and prosecution.
Ruling on the application, Justice Ogazi after listening to the lawyer’s submission and reading through all the processes, ruled that ‘the application has merit and the same is granted as prayed.’
The judge ordered that the two suspects be remanded in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services and adjourned the matter to August 25 for possible arraignment of the two suspects.
