Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
In Iran-Gambia arms saga, suspect says he didn't know cargo had arms
Tuesday, 08 March 2011 17:01
JollofNews – The Nigerian man accused of illegally importing arms from Iran destined for Gambia has claimed
he was deceived into thinking that the shipment contained building materials.Ali Usman Abbas Jega said in a statement read in court on Tuesday that he gave his name as a consignee because Iranian citizen Azim Aghajani and a businessman whose name was given as Masud did not tell him that the 13 containers carried weapons, the Associated Press reported.
The manifest for the consignment, which included 107 mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and other weapons concealed beneath tiles, also said that the containers had building materials.
Documents related to the controversial shipment pointed to Gambia as the final destination of the arms, but Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has vehemently denied knowledge of the shipment.
However, Iran has since revealed to the world that the shipment was in fact part of a secret agreement between it and President Yahya Jammeh, and that two batches of arms had already been delivered to Gambia.
That Iranian testimony has been corroborated by revelations in court during the ongoing trial of the only two men in custody, facing four charges for the weapons shipment. The Gambia government though has remained mute since then.
Tuesday’s trial revealed that the Nigerian accused, in a statement, wrote that the Iranians wanted to use his "name to send the goods on transit to Nigeria, as well as introduce a clearing agency that shall do the job for them." Jega added that the Iranian businessman identified Masud sent him $12,000 to clear the shipment through customs.
To support Jega's claim of ignorance, the defense said Jega suggested the owners sell the materials after they had spent 90 days at the clearance center and started to accrue storage charges.
"It came to a point,” Jega wrote, when I said 'Why not sell them in Nigeria? There are Igbo traders who deal in construction materials in Lagos,' but he said they must go to Banjul."
The trial continues on March 21.
Written by Agustin Jatta
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
Anti-cuts protest at Clegg's homeUp to 100 anti-cuts protesters gather outside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's home in south-west...
-
Islamist and ex-PM vie for mantle of Egypt's revoltCAIRO (Reuters) - The Muslim Brotherhood and a military man identified with the police state...
-
Bristol Rovers Speed Merchant Could Be Racing To Posh(GamSports) – Peterborough United are thought to be one of a number of Championship sides...