MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 32-year-old man, Ali Amodu, has landed in trouble for allegedly being in possession of a pistol, which he claimed to have bought for self defence without approval before he was arrested by the Police in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Amodu, has been charged for unlawful possession of firearms under the Criminal Law of the State.
The incident happened in Badagry area of Lagos, where the Police suspected Amodu of an armed robber before he claimed that the pistol was for self defence.
He was therefore, detained at the station for interrogation as the Police asked him to know which authority he had to get the firearm. But he claimed that he did not ask for any approval from any authority in charge of issuing firearm.
The Police found him culpable after interrogation and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the Court that the defendant was arrested in the Igbogbele area of Badagry West, Lagos, with a metal pistol, which he claimed was for his protection and self-defence.
She further stated that the defendant was apprehended by Policemen during a stop-and-search operation and was subsequently handed over to the DSS for further interrogation and prosecution.
According to her, the offence contravened Section 330 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which prescribes seven years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of the offence.
She urged the court to adjourn the case to enable her to study the case file and assemble witnesses for prosecution on the one-count charge of unlawful possession of firearm.
However, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, did not take the defendant’s plea for want of jurisdiction and ordered him remanded pending the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The matter was adjourned till 28th August, 2025 for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.