Illegal Arms Importation: I Was Tortured During Investigation -Suspect

One of the suspects standing trial over unlawful and illegal importation of 661 pump action guns into the country insisted in court today that he was tortured by agents of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Mamudu Hassan told a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ayotunde Faji, that he was subjected to psychological trauma, during the period he spent with the DSS.

Hassan, a retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs (ACC), told the Court that his legs and hands were always chained while he was blindfolded since he was transfered to the DSS by the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), on March 10, 2017, till when they were charged to court on June 14.

He stated that the only time that the chains and blindfold were removed from him was when he wanted to write statement and the day his lawyer visited him.

Hassan made the revelation while being led by his lawyer, Mr. Yakubu Galadima, during trial-within-trial of the case

A detective with the Department, Jaiye Emmanuel, had on Tuesday, told the court that none of the accused were chained during interrogation by his agency.

Hassan, his company, Hassan Mamudu Nigeria Limited, alongside Salisu Abdulahi Danjuma, Oscar Orkafor, Donatus Ezebunwa Achinulo and Matthew Okoye, who is allegedly at large, were charged to Justice Faji’s court, over alleged illegal importation of firearms, conspiracy, forgery and altering of documents, offering of graft to government officials and importation of prohibited goods.

They were all charged before the Court by Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) on June 14, 2017, on the alleged offences, which according to the prosecutors, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye and Peter Okunrinmodu, are contrary to and punishable under sections 3(6),1(14)(a)(I) 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And section 98(1) (b) of the Criminal Code Act.

At the resumed trial-within-trial, today, Mamudu said: “On March 10, 2017, myself and Osita Okafor, were handed over to DSS; they came with four or five pick-up cars; they separated us. Before then, one of them was standing outside and they (DSS) chained my legs and hands. I was equally blindfolded with black cloth, then I was ordered to enter the pick-up, and I was told to lied down. All the officers had guns with them.

“We were blindfolded from Customs office to DSS office. On the arrival at the DSS office, we were told to sit on the floor, and I told them to remove the chain on my legs and hands, and the blindfold but they did not answer me.

“One of the officers asked me if I am the owner of the container, I said no, but it was given to me to clear. He told me that by the time he finished with me, I will say the truth.

“They took us to see a doctor at their clinic; the doctor asked us of our medical record, and I told him that I have pile, I am hypertensive, I don’t breath very well, and that I am on medication, with all these, but no medication was given to me. I was left to myself, and I was still blindfolded.”

The accused also said he was not answered on March 11, when he told the operatives that he wanted to see his lawyer, and that on March 12, he made a first statement with the DSS, in a conference room, “that was when the blindfold was removed, and that they told me to cooperate with them in my statement, but I told the operatives that I stand by my statement, and that I wanted to see his lawyer”.

He also told the Court that after he demanded to see his lawyer, a cloth was tied round his head and the operatives started pouring water on him, and that when the torture was on, one Mr. Odu came in and told him to confess, else, he would be taken to ground cell shot him there and that nothing will happen as they are government agent.

He said that he told them that he knew nothing about content of the container.

The accused however stated that he changed his mind and told the operatives that he was ready to cooperate when the situation became tense and his BP was rising.

He said about five men pointed guns at him while writing the statement, and the blindfold was removed but immediately after he finished the statement, he was blindfolded again and chained both on the legs and hands and led into the cell.

Mamudu also stated that on March 27, 2017, he was again led to the conference room, where he met about eight men but five were armed, and he was shown two Bills of Lading, but he told the operatives that he only knew the one given to him by Osita Okafor (third accused).

During cross-examination by the prosecutor, Mr. Ajakaiye, the other accused person, told the Court that he wrote all the three statements by himself, and that all the periods he wrote the statements, he was not blindfolded and no chain was put on his legs and hands.

He also told the court that he knew the third accused while serving the Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and that he was sending him to buy China steel doors for him anytime he had little money.

The matter has been adjourned till May 2, for adoption of written addresses on the trial-within-trial.