For escorting smugglers, ex-naval officer bags 4yrs in jail

For escorting contraband goods from Seme Border to evade custom duty in Lagos, a dismissed Naval officer, Amadu Usman who pleaded guilty to charges against him has been sentenced to four years in prison for his illegal act.
An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ court presided over by Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oluwadamilola Olanipenikun also found the suspect guilty of impersonation, unlawful possession of Navy uniforms and using same to cheat for personal gains.

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The prosecutor, Inspector William Ologun, told the court that Usman committed the offence on Oct 10, 2015.
Usman according to the prosecutor wore the complete uniform of an officer of the Nigerian Navy and deceitfully escorted vehicles carrying contraband goods from Seme to Lagos, to evade customs duties.
In his words, the prosecutor said; “Usman was arrested at Costain area in Surulere, Lagos by members of the Police Anti-Extortion Patrol Unit on duty in the area, wearing complete uniform of the Nigerian Navy.
The suspect confessed to have been dismissed from service in 2009, but said he had kept the uniform to make ends meet.
While delivering her judgement, chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oluwadamilola Olanipenikun of the Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ court said;
“Based on your confessional statement and facts presented before the court, it has been proven that you deliberately and unlawfully kept the property of the Nigerian Navy for personal gains.
“The law stipulates that even as a serving officer of the law, you must not use your position or uniform to cheat for personal gains.
“The sentence is a total of four years imprisonment, that will be served consecutively, starting from today,” Olanipekun added.

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