22nd March, 2012
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has adjourned till Monday 19 March to hear the bail application of a Chinese citizen arraigned before the court over an alleged illegal exportation of prohibitive items.
In a two-count criminal charge filed before the court by the prosecuting counsel, Bola Odugbesan, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation the accused Chinese citizen, Liang Zuli, female, of Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos on 4 March, 2012 attempted to export out of Nigeria worked Ivory concealed in a teddy bear being specimen of species prohibited from being exported out of Nigeria, thereby committed an offence under section 7 (1) of the National Environmental Protection of endangered species in International Trade Regulations 2011 and punishable under section 7 (2) of the same regulations.
In count two of the same criminal charge, the accused was alleged to be in possession of worked Ivory concealed in a teddy bear doll thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7 (3) and punishable under section 7 (4) of the same regulations protection of endangered species in international trade.
The accused Chinese pleaded not guilty to the two counts and her Attorney, Mr. O. N. Muomamu, told the court that he has filed bail application before the court which the presiding judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, has adjourned for hearing. The accused was ordered to be remanded in prison custody.
—Akin Kuponiyi