Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kano, has ordered the remand of three suspects at the Kano Correctional Centre over alleged possession of 47 live wild animals in violation of the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Regulations.
The defendants – Nasib Ahmed, Abba Abdullahi and Surajo Abdullahi – were arraigned by the Nigeria Customs Service on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit an offence and possession of live endangered animals.
Counsel to the Nigeria Customs Service and Director of Legal Services, Smart Akande, withdrew the three-count charge earlier filed and applied for an amended two-count charge to be read to the defendants for their pleas.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants, on or about August 26, 2026, in Kano, conspired to possess 47 live animals, including four caracals, two baby gorillas, seven patas monkeys, six rock fowls, two galagos (bush babies), one honey badger, four chimpanzees, two albino alligators and 19 great bustard birds.
The prosecution said the possession and trade in the animals were prohibited under the first schedule of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act and constituted an offence under Section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution told the court that some of the animals were being kept at the Enugu Conservation Centre, while the baby gorillas remained in Customs custody.
He said some of the animals, including the honey badger, were dangerous and were therefore not brought to court. He also told the court that capturing a baby gorilla usually involved killing the entire family.
Defence counsel, Adamu Muhammad, said the defendants had been in detention for three weeks and indicated his intention to make a formal bail application.
Justice Shuaibu adjourned the case until October 7 for hearing and the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the correctional facility.