Three operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and three others have been arraigned by the Department of State Security Service before the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the NSCDC personnels have been dismissed from the corps following an administrative order.
The personnels include Ojonimi Samuel (40), James Ikagu and Abdulraman Omuya.
Others arraigned alongside the dismissed officers, are: Abass Jimoh aka Big Man (43), Jamah Suleiman and Shaibu Abdulsalam aka Nice (43).
Counsel to the DSS, Yahaya Olanrewaju, told Justice D.U. Okorowo of the Federal High Court, sitting at the Hassan Katsina Road, Crusher in Lokoja that the “1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants were earlier remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) Kabba centre while the 4th, 5th and sixth defendants who were officers of the NSCDC were released on administrative bail, and later returned to the DSS custody.
We were informed that the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants have been dismissed by the corps,” he added.
The seven count charges filed against the suspects included unlawful dealing in weapons and conspiracy to commit an illegal act to wit dealing in 80 rounds of G3mm ammunition, all of which are punishable under section 27(1)(III) and such other subsections of the Firearms Act (2004).
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Okorowo thereafter adjourned till March 10 for their bail applications and April 29 for hearing while all the accused were ordered to be remanded at the Kabba centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, in Kogi State.