The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed December 2 for the arraignment of the founding President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Isaac Jolapamo, over alleged illegal firearms possession.
Jolapamo will be brought by the police before Justice Yelim Bogoro on a three-count charge of alleged unlawful possession of guns.
The police, in a charge marked FHC/L/404c/22, accused Jolapamo of being in possession of illegal firearms namely a Mar .22 calibre rifle, a pump-action firearm, and a double-barrel gun without lawful authorisation.
Last Friday, the police failed to arraign the shipping magnate following his absence in court due to an alleged ailment.
Prosecution counsel Anthony Iyeye informed the court that the matter was for arraignment and for the defendant to take his plea.
But Jolapamo’s counsel, Mr. Femi Falana SAN said the defendant was on admission in an hospital and tendered the defendant’s medical report.
But Iyeye disputed the defence’s claim, saying he was not aware of the ailment. He argued that the defendant ought to be compelled to appear before the judge.
Justice Bogoro adjourned till December 2, 2022, for arraignment.
The charge reads: “That you Mr. Isaac Jolapamo ‘M‘, sometime in March 2021 in Ikoyi, Lagos State… did commit a felony, to wit; unlawful possession of Mar .22 calibre rifle with reference number 967475; you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3, and punishable under Section 27(1)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act.
“That you Mr. Isaac Jolapamo ‘M’, sometime in March 2021 in Ikoyi, Lagos State… did commit a felony, to wit; unlawful possession of pump-action with reference number 9331425. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 and punishable under section 27(1)(b)(i) of the Firearms Act.
“That you, Mr. Isaac Jolapamo ‘M’, sometime in March 2021 in Ikoyi, Lagos State… did commit a felony, to wit: unlawful possession of a double-barrel gun; you thereby ‘committed an offence contrary to section 4 and punishable under section 127 (1)(b)(i) of the Firearms Act.”
