An estate owner, Mr. Stanley Ani has been arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, by Nigerian Police Force.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that Ani was arraigned over an allegation that he owned firearms and ammunition, without a valid licence.
In the three-count charge brought before the court, Police alleged that the defendant was at Ndiaga Amechi Uwani, found to be in possession of two automatic pump action guns without a license duly issued by the Governor of Enugu State or the Commissioner of Police in the state, contrary to section 5 and punishable under section 27 of the firearms Act 2004.
It further accused the defendant of being in possession of 20 rounds of cartridges meant for the guns, adding that a licence that was adduced by the defendant, was forged.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge that was read to him before trial Justice Nkeonye Maha.
He thereafter, through his lawyer, Mr. Igwe E. A., begged the court to admit him on bail, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Mr Igwe told the court that his client was previously on an administrative bail that was granted to him by the police.
Relying on sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, he urged the court to allow him to continue to enjoy the bail, stressing that the charge contained bailable offences.
“The defendant has been on administrative bail granted by the police on self-recognisance.
“Therefore, we urge the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms,” the defence lawyer pleaded, even as he urged the court to grant his client five days to perfect whatever bail conditions may be imposed on him.
Meanwhile, Igwe’s submissions did not sit well with the trial judge who chided him for attempting to “take away the constitutional powers of the court to determine a defendant’s bail conditions.”
“From the records of the court, the defendant, on five occasions, failed to appear in court,” the judge fumed.
Justice Maha threatened to report Mr Igwe to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over his conduct in the case.
On its part, the police, through its lawyer, Chika Amuka, said it was not opposed to the defendant’s request for bail.
Consequently, in her bench ruling, Ms Maha granted the defendant bail to the tune of N2million.
The trial judge ordered the defendant to produce two sureties who must be civil servants not below grade level nine in the Federal Civil Service.
In addition, the judge ordered the defendant and the two sureties to surrender their passports to the Chief Registrar of the court.
She directed that the defendant should be remanded at Kuje prison, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The case was later adjourned till May 20 for trial.