Judge Remands 30 Years Old Man In Custody Over Illegal possession Of Firearm

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos today ordered the remand of a 30 years old man Ogunjimi Opeyemi Mayowa  at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre till November 6, 2025 when his trial will commence.

Mayowa was arraigned before the court on a three counts charge  by men of the Department of State Service, DSS for unlawful possession of firearm.

At the arraignment of the defendant today, the prosecutor Mr M.O. Bajela informed the court that the prosecution has a three counts charge pending before the court and urged the court to order that the charge be read so that the defendant can take his plea.

The charge was then read and Mayowa pleaded not guilty to same.

Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr M.O Bajela asked for a trial date and the remand of  the defendant pending trial.

However, due to the lack of any bail application from the defendant’s counsel, Justice Aneke ordered his remand in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ikoyi Lagos and adjourned the matter till November 6, 2025 for trial.

Mayowa who was arrested with a locally made pistol and three live cartridges in a public bus along Lekki -Ajah road, Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA during a stop and search operation was eventually handed  over to the DSS for further interrogation and prosecution.

In his confessional statement to the DSS, the defendant who claimed to be a member of the Oodua People’s Congress,OPC,Gani Adams faction stated  that he purchased the pistol from a friend called ‘Solution Armani’ who he said is also an OPC member at the sum of N25,000 and the three live cartridges at N2000 each.

Mayowa said he used the pistol to protect himself whenever they go for land grabbing operations in different parts of Lagos And Ogun State.

The defendant said that there are two types of land grabbing operations , the first he called flushing operation while he called  the second type pindown.

He said the flushing operations usually take place in the daytime  in conjunction with police officers who will use their AK-47 rifles to chase the occupants of the land away . He said the police would then leave late in the evening leaving the ‘boys’ at the site setting the stage for the second operation “pindown’ .

He said the boys would now be guarding the place  both day and night using their own arm mostly to defend themselves against any possible retaliatory attack.

The charge against the defendant reads:

Count 1

That you Ogunjimi Opeyemi Mayowa {M) and others (at large) on or about the 11th  day of June 2024, around Lagos Business School, Ajah, in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony, 10 wit: illegal possession of prohibited fire arm, to wit one locally made pistol and three (3) live cartridges without lisence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As Amended}.

COUNT 2

 That you Ogunjimi Opeyemi Mayowsa (M) on or about the 11th  day of June 2024, around Lages Business School Ajah, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony, fo wit: by being in unlawful possession of prohibited fire arm namely, one locally made pistol without lisence and you thereby committed on offence contrary to section 3 of the firearms Act, Cap F28, laws of the Federation of Nigeria. 2004 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 27(1) (a) of the some Act.

Count 3