A man who suffered excruciatingly for two months under the custody of Nigerian Customs service has been arraigned at the Federal Court in Lagos before Justice Ibrahim Kala.
The arraignment came months after the defendant’s lawyers filed a fundamental rights enforcement procedure suit to release him from unlawful custody where he was held for about 3 months without trial.
Mr Ikenna Aniche, a dealer in local arts and traditional carving was arrested in a commando style in Onitsha on the 15th of May 2024 and brought to Lagos.
On the 16th of May 2024, a raid on his house was organised by the Nigerian Customs service who arrested his son and carted away some of his belongings worth millions of Naira.
His car taken by the Nigerian Customs service is yet to be accounted for.
According to the processes in court, while in detention, he was compelled to use a lawyer who was recommended by the Customs service and made to cough out more than 6million naira.
His suit against the Nigerian Customs service is still pending before Justice Aluko of the Federal High Court.
He pleaded not guilty to the 5 count charge of dealing with 25.5kg of Elephant tusk.
The prosecutor Michael Osong urged the court to detain him in the correctional facility.
His Counsel Anthony Atata, informed the court that he had already filed a bail application that morning. The court heard the bail application, which was not opposed by the Prosecutor and granted the defendant bail with the condition of providing two sureties.
The matter was adjourned to 27th of February for trial.
