The Nigerian Customs Provider on Thursday arraigned a businessman, Ikenna Aniche, sooner than the Federal Prime Court docket in Lagos for allegedly promoting and working in 25.35 kilograms of elephant tusks.
Elephants are natural world animals categorised as endangered species.
The defendant is dealing with two counts bordering on conspiracy, promoting and working in 25.35 kilograms of elephant tusks, most popular towards him by way of the NCS.
Aniche was once introduced sooner than Justice Ibrahim Kala on fees marked FHC/L/5/456c/2024.
The prosecution suggest, Michael Osong, accused Aniche of taking part with Ifeanyi Nwakpa, who’s already serving a prison time period for a matching offence.
Osong mentioned the defendant and his partner who’s serving prison time period, dedicated the alleged crime on February 1, 2024, at Sheraton Resort in Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor additionally instructed the court docket that the defendant retained the sum of N2.2m in his corporate’s account evocative, Arthur Craft International Restricted’s Constancy Storehouse, account quantity: 5080074054.
He mentioned that the cash was once a go of an illegal occupation.
Osong additionally instructed the court docket that the defendant was once present in ownership of numerous labored elephant ivories.
In step with the prosecutor, the offences dedicated contravened Categories 516 of the Prison Code Occupation, Cap. C38, Regulations of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He additionally instructed the court docket that the defendant’s acts contravened Division 7(3) of the Nationwide Environmental (Coverage of Endangered Species in World Business Rules, 2011, and punishable underneath Division 7(4) of the similar Occupation. And Division 18(2)(d) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Occupation, 2022, and punishable underneath Division 18(3) of the similar Occupation.
Then again, the defendant pleaded no longer responsible to the allegations towards him.
Following his plea of no longer responsible, his attorney, A. Atata, knowledgeable the court docket that the defendant’s bail utility have been filed and have been served the prosecution.
He thereafter advised the court docket to serve the defendant bail in essentially the most kind phrases.
Justice Kala upcoming taking arguments at the bail utility, admitted him to bail within the sum of N10m, with two sureties in like sum.
The pass judgement on ordered that one of the vital sureties should be a Grade Stage 14 officer in a central authority status quo, time the second one surety should be a landed feature proprietor throughout the court docket’s jurisdiction.
Justice Kala additionally ordered that the defendant will have to be remanded within the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services and products pending the perfection of the bail phrases.
The case was once adjourned until February 27, 2025, for trial.