A Federal High Court in Yola, on Thursday remanded a businessman, Jabir Mohammed in a correctional facility for alleged unlawful dealing in petroleum products and illegal possession of ammunition.
Mohammed who resides in Mubi, Adamawa is charged with unlawful dealing in petroleum products, attempt to export 2,000 jerrycans of petroleum products and illegal possession of ammunition.
Justice Bala Usman, however, adjourned the case until Nov.11 to enable the prosecutor respond to the bail application served on her by the defence counsel.
Usman said that the prosecutor was entitled to 48 hours to enable her respond to the application served by the defence counsel.
He further remanded the defendantat at the correctional centre.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Adewumi Aluko, Assistant Legal Adviser, Nigeria Customs Service, has told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Sept. 25, at Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa.
Aluko alleged that Mohammed, without a lawful authorisation acquired 2,000 liters jerrycans of petroleum products loaded in a Daihatsu Hiject vehicle with chassis number S210P0092008.
She alleged that the defendant without authorisation also attempted to export same products in a Daihatsu Hiject vehicle from Adamawa into Republic of Cameroon .
The Prosecutor further alleged that sometimes in 2023, the defendant illegally had in his possession 25 rounds of ammunition at Mubi South Subero Ward in Adamawa.
She said the offence contravened the provisions of section 1(17)(a), and 1(19) Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 .
Also Section 8 of the firearms Act, punishable under section 27of firearms Act CAP F.28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecution Counsel, prayed the court to pick a date for hearing and urged the court to remand Mohammed at the correctional facility.
Aluko urged to court to grant her prayers saying, she needed time to respond to a bail application sent to her by the Defence Counsel, Garba Yunusa, on Nov.6.
Yunusa, who did not oppose to the first application, objected to the second application that the defendant be remanded, urging the court to admit his client to bail.
“A bail application has already been filed before the court and same has been served to the legal department of the Nigeria Custom Service office on Oct. 31.
“My client has been in their custody for the past 43 days, I applied for administrative bail and I was denied until the case was charged to court.
“I took a proactive measure and served them a bail application,” Yunusa said.
The prosecution counsel refuted the statement of been served on Oct. 31, stressing that she received the bail application on Nov. 6 and needed time to respond to the application.
By Talatu Maiwada, NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA