Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, on has arraigned three men before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano over alleged conspiracy and possession of endangered wildlife species intercepted along the Kano-Daura Road.
The defendants, identified in court as Nasib Ahmed, Abba Abdullahi and Surajo Abdullahi, were brought before Justice Muhammad Shuaibu following their arrest by operatives of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command during an intelligence-led operation which resulted in the interception of a consignment laden with caracal wild cats, chimpanzees, baby gorillas, red-coloured patas monkeys, galagos, a honey badger, albino alligators, rock fowls, a civet cat and greater bustard birds.
Prosecution counsel, Smart Akande esq who is the Legal Adviser and Director of Legal Services to the NCS, told the court that the Service had substituted the earlier charges with a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and possession of endangered wildlife, adding, “Their offences contravened relevant provisions of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, 2016, as well as regulations governing the protection of endangered species in domestic and international trade.”
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the two counts charge when they were read to them, and Mr Akande subsequently urged the court to give the matter an expedited hearing, stressing the need to safeguard the lives of the animals, some of which were reportedly taken from their mothers at a tender age and required urgent care in a conservation facility.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the defendants, Adamu Muhammad esq, did not oppose the prosecution’s request for an early hearing but applied for bail on behalf of his clients, arguing that they had already spent time in custody.
After hearing both sides, Justice Shuaibu ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre pending determination of the bail application and hearing of the substantive case.
The court consequently adjourned the matter until 7 October 2026 for hearing of the bail application and the substantive case. The defendants therefore remain in custody pending the court’s consideration of their application.
