By TAIYE AGBAJE

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of Dr Adejare Adegbenro, in Kuje Correctional Centre for establishing an illegal government agency.

Adegbenro was alleged to have established National Commission for the Coordination And Control Of Proliferation of Small Arms, Ammunitions And Light Weapons (NATCOM).

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after he was arraigned by the Nigerian police on a six-count charge bordering on terrorism, advance fee fraud and cybercrimes.

Adegbenro pleaded not guilty to the counts and the prosecutor, D.S. Akor, prayed the court to remand him in a correctional facility pending the conclusion of the trial.

But the defendant’s lawyer, Chibuzor Ezike, told the court that a bail application had been filed on his client’s behalf.

The bail application was, however, not in the court file.

Justice Nwite, who adjourned the matter until June 24 to take the bail application, fixed July 18 for trial commencement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/246/2024, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is tye complainant while Dr Adejare Rewane Nurudeen Adegbenro is the sole defendant.

In count one, Adegbenro and others at large were alleged to have, on or before April 17, at Government Secondary School, Tundun Wada, Wuse Zone 4, conspired to commit alleged terrorism.

They were alleged to have established an illegal organization known as National Commission for the Coordination and Control of Proliferation of Small Arms, Ammunitions And Light Weapons (NATCOM) without authorisation.

The act was said to be prejudicial to national security and being an offence punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In count three, he and others now at large were alleged to have, on or before Dec. 4, 2023, with intent to deceive, unlawfully assumed the name, character, designation of a National Coordination Of the National Centre For Control Of Smail Arms And Light Weapons, specifically posing as a government agency dealing with the coordination and control of proliferation of small arms, ammunitions and light weapons.

The offence is contrary to Section 30 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

In count four, Adegbenro was alleged to have, on April 28, with intent to defraud did obtain funds from certain persons by falsely presenting himself as an authorised agent of the Nigerian Government.

He was alleged to have conducted staff recruitment in “the illegal National Commission for the Coordination and Control of Proliferation of Small Arms, Ammunitions and Light Weapons (NATCOM).”

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act, among other counts. (NAN)