The Federal Government on Monday closed its case in the trial of five men charged with illegal importation of 661 pump-action guns into the country.
The defendants in the charge filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos are Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said be at large, and Salihu Danjuma.
They were arraigned on June 14, 2017, before Justice Ayokunle Faji.
After calling its ninth witness on Monday, the prosecuting counsel for the Federal Government, Julius Ajakaye, told the court that the prosecution would be closing its case.
The judge adjourned till April 4 for the defendants to open their defence.
In the charges against them, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said the accused brought 661 pump-action rifles into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.
To facilitate the illegal importation, the accused allegedly forged a number of documents including a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report.
