On Wednesday, Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed the charge against Great James Oil and Gas Ltd, a company accused of illegally importing 1,570 firearms.
The case was struck out after the Attorney General’s office filed a notice of discontinuance in accordance with Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The case originally involved multiple defendants, including Moses Ifeuwa, a shipper, and Festus Emeka, a clearing agent, who were convicted earlier on April 24. They were sentenced to two years in prison for their role in the conspiracy, illegal importation, forgery, and altering customs documents.
However, under a plea bargain, both were given the option of paying a fine of ₦1 million per charge (₦8 million in total) instead of serving the full prison term.
Initially, the trial began under Justice Saliu Saidu in 2018, but after his retirement, the case was reassigned to Justice Allagoa. The defendants entered a plea bargain with the prosecution, ultimately leading to their conviction.
In this recent development, the prosecution, led by Joshua Alma, requested the court to discontinue proceedings against Great James Oil and Gas Ltd, and Justice Allagoa granted the application. Consequently, the charges against the company were dismissed, effectively ending the prosecution against the corporate entity.
The case, which revolved around severe allegations of conspiracy, firearm importation, and document forgery, has now concluded with only the two individuals convicted and the company cleared of charges.
