A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered two men, Ejiogu Godson and Robert Eze, to be remanded in custody for 15 days over the alleged smuggling of 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms and a large collection of rifle parts into Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Justice Friday Ogazi issued the order on Friday after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) filed an ex parte application through its Legal Services Department at Tin-Can Island, Apapa.<\/p>\n
The application, marked FHC\/LAG\/CR\/601\/2026, was presented by NCS counsel Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni. She asked the court to remand the suspects so Customs could complete its investigation and determine the appropriate charges against them.<\/p>\n
Represented by Bode-Ayeni, Customs said there was enough probable cause to keep the two men in custody while the investigation continues.<\/p>\n
How the guns were found<\/p>\n
According to an affidavit by Customs operative N. Akpan, officers began monitoring container number TEMU 1845369 on July 8, 2026, based on credible intelligence.<\/p>\n
When the container was examined on July 13, officers allegedly discovered firearms and ammunition concealed inside. Further investigation led to the arrest of Godson and Eze, who reportedly provided information about other people suspected of tampering with Customs records and documents.<\/p>\n
The suspects have also made confessional statements under caution, Akpan said. He noted that efforts are still ongoing to arrest others connected to the case.<\/p>\n
Akpan explained that the investigation could not be wrapped up within the constitutionally required 24 or 48 hours because investigators need to travel to other jurisdictions to recover exhibits and track down more suspects. He also warned that releasing the two men could put the investigation at risk, since they are believed to know where some of the people still at large are hiding.<\/p>\n
Court’s ruling<\/p>\n
Justice Ogazi granted the application as requested, ordering Godson and Eze to be remanded in a Correctional Centre for 15 days. The case has been adjourned to August 25, 2026 for possible arraignment.<\/p>\n
Customs chief warns of election-linked smuggling<\/p>\n
Earlier, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi revealed that Customs had intercepted the container, which hid knocked-down parts of Jojef pump-action rifles.<\/p>\n
The recovered parts include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips\/handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.<\/p>\n
Adeniyi warned that criminal networks could try to use Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports to move prohibited items ahead of the next general elections.<\/p>\n
“We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so,” he said.<\/p>\n
He reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border surveillance and collaboration with sister agencies, including the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), to identify and dismantle trafficking networks.<\/p>\n
Once the inventory and assessment of the illicit shipment is complete, Customs plans to hand over the seized weapons to the NCCSALW, ensuring dangerous arms are taken off the streets and those behind the trafficking network are brought to justice.<\/p>\n
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