Two Nigerians Sentenced To Prison With Hard Labour For Smuggling, Assaulting Customs Officers With Horsewhips, ‘Juju’ In Ogun
A Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State has convicted and sentenced two smugglers, Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili, to two years in prison with hard labour.
The duo, who were jailed on February 6, 2024, were prosecuted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for their involvement in assembling to contravene customs laws, possession of smuggled goods and assaulting Customs officers with charms (juju) and horsewhips at Owoyele-Igbogila, Yewa-North Local Government, Ogun State in 2023.
This is contained in a statement the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, issued on Sunday, through the National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada.
According to the statement, the judgement was delivered by the Justice Demi-Ajayi.
“Felarun and Jelili have been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine by Honourable Justice Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller General, Adeniyi, has revealed that 11 suspects had been convicted for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, and possession of Pangolin scales meant for export, among other illicit items.
Meanwhile, some other smuggling and related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently, Customs said.
“Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili were first arraigned in Court in May 2023 on a three-count charge and have been remanded at the correctional center in Abeokuta since then until their recent conviction,” the NCS spokesperson said.
