By OLAWALE AKINREMI

Mr Babatunde Afolabi, an investigator with the Department of State Services, on Monday, told the Federal High Court, Ibadan, that Asmau Omar, a defendant In a case of illegal arms dealing, allegedly procured and sent ammunition to her husband in his hideout.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Omar and three others ha 2024 been facing a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, illegal dealing in ammunition, as well as aiding and abetting terrorism.

The co-defendants – Olamide Okesola, Emmanuel Olatunji, and Adeleke Adewale – are personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

All the defendants, who had pleaded not guilty to the offences at their arraignment in the case which started in 2023, had objected to the tendering of their alleged extra judicial statement, claiming it was obtained by duress.

However, Justice Nkeonye Maha had ruled against the preliminary objection on Friday, July 3, and held the statements as admissible evidence.

At the resumption of hearing on Monday, Afolabi made the disclosure while being led in his evidence-in-chief.

“My lord, in our bid to arrest Dandake, a notorious terrorist whose act of terrorism covers Kwara, Kogi, Oyo and Ogun states respectively, we arrested Asmau trying to courier some arms and ammunition to her husband.

“Asmau, the fourth defendant has also been on our raider for long because our intelligence revealed that she is a courier of illegal arms to terrorists.

“So, she was arrested in the company of Buhari Lawan trying to courier ammunition to her husband.

“During our intelligence analyses, we discovered that the defendant usually move arms and ammunition and we found out the source.

“After their arrest, ammunition were found in their possession,” he said tendering a Compact Disc video showing the defendant and the ammunition in her possession as an exhibit before the court.

During cross examination, Afolabi pointed out that the defendant’s husband was identified as a notorious terrorist because many terrorists arrested by the DSS in the past have confirmed him as a notorious terrorist, terrorising most states in the South-Western Nigeria.

At the conclusion of the cross examination, the defence counsel, Mr A.B. Ademilua said that he would not open any defence because no case has being established against his clients.

Ademilua said that he would file a no case submission and thereafter requested an adjournment to gather some authorities in support of his position.

Consequently, Justice Maha adjourned the suit until Oct. 7 for continuation of the matter. (NAN)

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