The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, under the jurisdiction of Justice Akintayo Aluko, has convicted and sentenced two men, Umar Muhammed and Ibrahim Musa, to 12 months imprisonment for breaking into the Federal Government’s warehouse at the Nigerian Customs Service in Ikeja, Lagos.
Justice Aluko slammed the jail terms after the prosecutor, Mr. Michael Osong, reviewed the facts of the charge against them.
The duo were arraigned before Justice Aluko on March 14, for charges related to unlawful access to the warehouse and willful destruction of seized vehicles parked inside.
Osong hinted to the judge that the convicts illegally entered the warehouse between December 2023 and January 2024. The prosecutor informed the court that the convicts unlawfully destroyed some seized vehicles packed in the warehouse, as well as cables and wires.
The offence contravened Section 133(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and was punishable under the same Section of the same Act.
Both defendants pleaded guilty, prompting Justice Aluko to adjourn for a review of facts and sentencing.
During the review, Osong called a witness, Usman Maigari, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Ikeja, Lagos, who testified on how the convicts illegally entered the warehouse and burgled the place.
Osong urged the court to sentence the duo based on their plea, exhibits tendered, and in accordance with the Sections of the Acts they were charged with.
The convicts’ counsel, Mr. Henry Orarotimi, pleaded for leniency, noting their first-time offender status.
In his judgment, Justice Aluko sentenced the convicts to 12 months imprisonment on each count but held that the sentences should run concurrently.
The judge also ordered each convict to pay a fine of N100,000.00.
The charges state: “That you, Umar Muhammad, Male, Adult of Garbula, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and Ibrahim Musa, Male, Adult of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun State, between December 2023 and January 2024 in the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did obtain access to the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 133(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the same Act.
“That you, Umar Muhammad, Male, Adult of Garbula, Biu Local Government Area, Bornu State and Ibrahim Musa, Male, Adult of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun State between December 2023 and January 2024 in the Nigeria Customs Service Government Warehouse in the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did willfully destroy seized vehicles parked in the Government warehouse and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 133(3) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the same Act.”
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