Iran Arms Importation: Army Boss Concludes Testimony In Secrecy

DONATE

SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM

Iran Arms Importation: Army Boss Concludes Testimony In Secrecy

Wednesday, 02 November 2011 01:23

(Channelstv) - A Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, Gabriel Oladipo, on Monday concluded his testimony in secrecy before a Federal High Court in Lagos, in the on-going trial of an Iranian, Azim Aghajani, and a Nigerian, Alli Abass Jega, over their involvement in the illegal importation of 13 container loads of firearms and ammunition into Nigeria from Iran.
The trial of the accused persons had always been held in open court until last week Monday when the presiding Judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke ordered that everybody, including lawyers, litigants and journalists, except the accused persons and their lawyers, should leave the court because the evidence about to be given by the Federal Government witness affect national security. azim_aghajani

According to informed made available to pressmen today’s proceedings was concluded with the cross-examination of the Army chief by the lawyers to Jega (the second accused person), Aliyu Yawuri.
Aghanjani’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, had also cross-examined the witness.
After the conclusion of his testimony, Oladipo, was discharged by the court while the matter was adjourned till December 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 (a whole week) for the continuation of trial.
The judge at the last sitting had justified the secrete sitting on the ground that there is a need to safeguard national security as the brigadier-General might reveal some state secret in the course of giving his evidence.
But before this order that the court be cleared, the prosecution, represented by the Director of Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, had already started leading the Army boss, (who was the eight witness in the matter) in evidence-in-chief.
The witness had told the court that he is a Director of Ammunition at the Headquarters of Nigerian Army, Abalti Barracks, Surulere Lagos.
He added that he was commissioned into the Army in 1991after three years in the Nigerian Defence Academy and that he had been deployed in many arms and ammunition depot across Nigeria.
Oladipo then began to give evidence on the procurement policy of the Nigerian Army. He said “Nigerian Army has procurement policy based on threat analysis...” but before he could continue, Justice Okereke quickly intervened and inquired from the prosecution, led by Mrs. Olatunde, whether she did not consider the matter about to be related by the witness to be security sensitive enough to be heard in secrecy.
Fatunde took the hints of the court and agreed that the evidence of her witness could be heard after the court had been cleansed of non-interested parties.
After hearing the lead counsel of the defence, Chief Chris Uche, who did not object to the proposal, the judge said “Everybody including all counsel and parties, except the witness, counsel and the accused persons in the matter should leave the court now”.
That was when every person except the permitted parties left the court and further proceedings were held in secret.
The accused persons, Aghajani and Jega, are standing trial for a four- count charge of illegal importation of arms and ammunition comprising bombs, grenades, and rockets etc into Nigeria.
The government had, among other things, alleged that the accused imported ‘without licence’ 13 container loads of firearms and ammunition into Nigeria from Iran contrary to S1. (14) of the Firearms Act, Cap MI7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Comments

+5 #4 2011-11-02 23:02

Radiokangkang
Before it was “weapons designated for Gambia”. This time reading the above report, there is no single name of Gambia mentioned. But you know what they praying? Waking up tomorrow and a full report confirming the weapons are designated for the Gambia to be supplied to rebels in cassamance and then we will begin to see the democrats and human right defenders popping in chanting their usual slogans.

Quote