Man Caught With Firearms At MMIA

The police at Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos Island, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have arrested Anyanwu Longinus Obialor, 62 for illegal possession of arms and ammunition at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He was subsequently arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of illegal possession of arms and ammunition.

The police alleged that the accused was arrested on 12 June, with one Saiga assault riffle and a PFG pistol at the airport without any lawful and satisfactory account on how he came about them.

The offences, according to the prosecutors, Barrister Daniel Apotti and Inspector Haruna Ibrahim, are punishable under Section 428 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 17, vol. ii, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Counts 1, 2 read: “That you Anyanwu Longinus Obialor at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, did have in your possesion without any lawful and satisfactory answer, a Saiga assault riffle with serial number 1109109159 and a PFG pistol with serial number PUY47.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, A. A. Layinka, granted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate also directed that the sureties must show proof of tax payment to the Lagos State government for the past five years. One of the sureties, he directed, must be a civil servant on Grade level 12 and above or with a landed property. He adjourned the case till 6 July, 2011.

—Paul Iyoghojie