The presiding judge, Ademola Ajayi, gave the order in the suit filed by the Ikeja Zone “A” Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday.

Three suspected smugglers have been remanded in a correctional centre by a Federal High Court sitting in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

They were remanded for alleged forgery and smuggling.

The presiding judge, Ademola Ajayi, gave the order in the suit filed by the Ikeja Zone “A” Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday.

The defendants, Ismail Shaibu, Jimoh Yakubu and Abdullahi Muazu, were arraigned before the court on two counts of forgery and conspiracy by forging the NCS documents.

The prosecuting counsel, Vivian Aigbadon, told the court that two of the three defendants allegedly forged the NCS “Exit Note” to evade the necessary duties payable to the government.

Aigbadon said both Shaibu and Yakubu were standing trials for forgery and conspiracy, while Muazu was being tried for the illegal importation of a Toyota Rav-4 vehicle and some bags of foreign parboiled rice.

The prosecutor, who is also NCS Assistant Legal Adviser, told the court that the defendants committed the offences between January and February 2023 around Owode Idi-Iroko Road, the Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.

She said the first and second defendants (Shaibu and Yakubu) “conspired to forge Nigeria Customs Service’s documents, Exit Note declaration form, Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited Provision Assessment form, knowing the documents to be false and with the intent that may in any way, be used and acted upon as genuine.

“The third defendant (Muazu) was arrested on March 16 along Ajilete Owode in Yewa South after importing a 2010 Toyota Rav-4 Utility vehicle without payment of Duty payable.”

Acoording to Aigbadon, the offence committed was contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The prosecutor, therefore, applied for trial and urged that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre.

But, the defendants’ counsel applied for bail for their clients.

While ruling on the matter, the judge ordered that the three defendants be remanded in a correctional facility till May 16, 2023, when the hearing of the bail applications will take place.

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