By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra state, has remanded the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Shield Security outfit, Ozo Jeff Nweke and nine others in the state correctional centre.
The accused are to remain in the custody of the centre till Monday, December 4th 2023 for bail application.
The accused were arraigned and charged with illegal possession of firearms.
In charge sheet number FHC/Awka/ 2023 between the Inspector General of Police and the ten accused persons at the Federal High Court 2 Awka Anambra State on Tuesday.
The prime suspect Ozo Jeff Nweke was alleged to be the sponsor of a nude protest by women in Awka and others were arraigned for illegal procession of firearms without an authorized license.
The charge sheet reads,
That you (1) JEFF NWEKE ‘m (2) DENNIS CHUKWUMA OKOLI ‘m'(3)
0ZOEMENA EZEKWUSILI ‘m’ (4) NONSO CHUKWUEMEKA ‘m’ (5)
ECHEZONA NWAOBU ‘m’ (6) NWACHUKWU THANKGOD (7) JOHNSON
OLUCHUKWU(8) EZE CHUKwUNONSO (9) OLISA UZUWULU and (10)
NWADOZI CHUKWUEMEKA was found in possession of a round of ammunition prohibited firearm ( Pump Action) on October 2023 without a license granted to you.”
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 and punishable under 27(1)(b)(11) of Firearm Act CAP F28 law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.*
After the charges were read to the defendants they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel A.A. Nwano called for their remand in prison custody.
The defence counsel Mr Ifeanyi Obiako SAN opposed the application and called for their bail applications.
The presiding Judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said that the defence counsel should officially apply for bail of the accused on Monday.
Justice Dimgba in his ruling ordered that they be remanded in the Awka correctional centre till Monday 5th December for bail application for the accused.
