Some of the individuals indicted in the illegal importation of arms have decided to cooperate with the court of law during their trial.
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Two out of the five men being prosecuted by the Federal Government for unlawful importation of 661 pump-action rifles into the country have indicated their intention to enter into plea bargain with the prosecution.
The defendants – Mahmud Hassan, Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said to be at large, and Salihu Danjuma – had been arraigned by the Attorney General of the Federation on June 14 before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till September 25 for trial.
However, at the resumed proceedings on Monday, the second and third defendants, Oscar Okafor and Donatus Achinulo, respectively, who had changed their lawyers, indicated their intentions to change their plea from not guilty to guilty.
The application was made orally on behalf of Okafor by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), his new lawyer, and on behalf of Achinulo by Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN).
However, the judge directed the defendants to notify the AGF of their intention.