By Chibundu Nikky

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday, struck out an illegal firearms importation charge brought against an oil company, Great James Oil and Gas Ltd, by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

Justice Lewis Allagoa struck out the charge following a notice of discontinuance filed by the office of the AGF.

The court had on April 24, sentenced two co-defendants in the charge, Moses Ifeuwa (a shipper) and Festus Emeka (a clearing agent) to two years imprisonment each.

The defendants were charged alongside the company on an 8 counts charge bordering on conspiracy, illegal importation of firearms, forgery and alteration of custom import papers .

They were first arraigned in 2018 before Justice Saliu Saidu and trial had commenced but along the line, Justice Saidu retired from the bench and the case was reassigned to Justice Allagoa.

The defendants were consequently, re-arraigned in 2021 before Justice Allagoa and they had each pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution then opened its case and began trial, but the defendants subsequently, opted for a plea bargain with the office of the AGF

They had then changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty and the court had consequently, convicted them on the charge.

In its judgement on April 24, the court relied on relevant provisions of the ACJA with regards to plea bargain, and consequently, sentenced the convicts to a term of two years imprisonment each .

The court had, however, given the convicts an option of N1million fine on each of the 8 counts totaling N8 million.

When the case was called on Wednesday, Mr Joshua Alma, appeared for the prosecution. .

He then informed the court of an application seeking to discontinue proceedings against the first defendant Great James Oil and Gas Ltd.

He prayed the court to grant her application as moved

Justice Allagoa granted the application and consequently, struck out the charge against the company.