The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ has arraigned two alleged notorious smugglers in Lagos.
The suspects, Oyedeji Rashidi and Shuaib Sheyi, were arraigned at the Magistrate Court, Ikeja, Lagos State on Wednesday on a nine count charge of smuggling prohibited items.
The two suspects, according to Customs spokesman at the FOU, Jerry Attah, have been remanded in Ikoyi Prison on awaiting trial list as the case was adjourned to February 15, 2017.
Badejogbin David, who led the legal team of the Nigeria Customs Service, prayed that the court expedites the legal proceedings to serve as deterrent to others.
David said: “You would recall that onThursday 13 October 2016, our field operatives while on a tip off trailed some smugglers to Alakuko /Kola Junction area of Agege Lagos and intercepted two vehicles laden with smuggled rice.
“However while taking the seized goods to the office, one of the suspects, Oyedeyi Rashidi, incited a mob attack against our operatives who were armed with various dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, broken bottle, sticks, stones among others, which resulted to a shootout between our men and the smugglers.
“While some of these hoodlums confronted our operatives, others rescued one of the arrested vehicles loaded with smuggled rice. Only the intervention of our reinforcement saved one of the vehicles, and ensured the arrest of a suspect. The professional conduct of our operatives prevented a complete breakdown of law and order or serious fatalities in a densely populated area.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the fact that a smuggler has evaded scrutiny either by following unapproved route or compromising any operatives does not guarantee that the smuggled item will not be seized anywhere it is found by patrol officers whose duty is to ensure compliance.
“However, when the smugglers’ gang leader using their chain of informants got to know that our Unit was charging the suspect (Oyedeji Rashidi) to Court being18th October 2016, they mobilized with the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Lagos State Branch to stage an unruly protest to the Federal Operations Unit Zone A Ikeja demanding the unconditional release of the suspect in our custody. It is amazing that such credible Human rights body would allow themselves to be used by the smugglers who mean no good for the country.
“The Controller Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Comptroller Umar Mohammed Dahiru, commended the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, for his prompt deployment of his men to stop what would have caused serious tensions and casualties.”
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