FG seeks stakeholders’ support for forfeiture of arms after court’s judgement

The Federal Government, through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has solicited stakeholders’ support towards the forfeiture and safe disposal of illicit arms and weapons after the court’s judgement.

The centre made this call in Ado-Ekiti during a one-day seminar themed: ‘Strengthening procedural approaches for the forfeiture and safe disposal of small arms and light weapons after the court’s judgement.

The seminar was attended by stakeholders, including security agencies, officials of the Ministry of Justice, lawyers, judges, officials of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), religious and traditional rulers and the media, among others.

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Speaking, the Director General of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd) said the seminar was put together to seek the understanding of critical stakeholders in making sure that those illicit arms and weapons, after prosecution, are forfeited and not returned to the society

The DG, represented by the Centre’s Director of Legal Services, Chioma Onuegbu, explained that those arms would be used for criminal activities if returned to the society, hence the need to totally destroy them after court proceedings.

He said, “The aims and objectives of this workshop is to curtail the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, especially those arms that have gone through the criminal justice system.

“That is from investigation, prosecution, and then judgments. So what happens to those weapons after judgments? That is exactly what we want to achieve so that those exhibits tendered in court shouldn’t go back to society, to those criminals.

“We want, at the time of judgment, the prosecutor to ask the court to forfeit those exhibits to the federal government, precisely under the control of the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.”

Declaring the seminar opened, the acting Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said the forfeiture and subsequent destruction of arms and weapons after court judgement is key to preventing them from coming back to the society.

The CJ who was represented by Justice Adeniyi Familoni, commended the federal government and the centre for their commitment towards having a safe and secure country.

In his lecture, the Director of Public Prosecution in Ekiti State, Julius Ajibade said the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons is a major factor responsible for terrorism and other forms of armed violence and insecurities in the country.

He stressed that arms proliferation has contributed to the rise in social violence that constitutes threats to peace, stability, development and post-conflict reconstruction.

“It is apt to state that we are opening today another new vista in this undoubtedly challenging era when threats to security, peace and development have become a focal concern.

“The illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons as a global problem closely tied to terrorism and other forms of armed violence, the worldwide drug problem, trans-national organized crime, mercenary activities, the rise in social violence, promotion of corruption and other criminal constitute threats to peace, stability, development and post conflict reconstruction,” he said.

He also explained that the country is plagued with having ‘a terrorising gun culture’ which has become a nightmare to the security architecture of Nigeria, adding that the control of the flow of illicit arms is critical to combating the easy availability and misuse of weapons.

On his part, the Director of NCCSALW, Southwest Zone, Ben Akinlade, expressed his delight at the seminar, saying he’s fulfilled that the stakeholders have agreed to work with the centre in making sure that illicit arms and weapons are not returned to the black market after the court’s judgement.

Giving the overview of the NCCSALW Act 2024, the Assistant Director, legal services, South West zone, Ibironke Odetola explained that, ” the NCCSALW Act is a vital instrument for controlling and managing SALW in Nigeria. Its provisions provide a comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges posed by these weapons, particularly in the context of forfeiture and handling after court judgments. Effective implementation of this Act is essential for ensuring the safety and security of our nation.”