The Nigeria Customs Service has secured the conviction of two smugglers, Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the conviction was secured on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The convictions stemmed from cases of involvement in assembling to contravene customs laws, possession of smuggled goods, and assaulting customs officers with charms and horsewhips at Owoyele-Igbogila, Yewa-North Local Government, Ogun State in 2023.
Felarun and Jelili have been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour without the option of a fine by Justice Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta.
Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi asserted that 11 suspects were convicted for the offences of improper importation, assault on Customs officers, and possession of pangolin scales meant for export, among other illicit items, while some other smuggling and related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently.
Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili were first arraigned in court in May 2023 on a three-count charge and have been remanded at the correctional centre in Abeokuta since then until their recent conviction.