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Azim Aghajani said he needed his embassy to represent him before he could enter a plea
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An Iranian man has been charged with arms trafficking in a Nigerian court, in connection to a shipment of weapons intercepted at a port last month.
Azim Aghajani appeared in court in Abuja, but did not enter a plea.
Court documents reportedly identified him as a Tehran businessman, and also a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Three Nigerian nationals were charged in connection with the shipment, which included rockets and other explosives hidden amongst building materials.
The court said Mr Aghajani had been charged with attempting to import prohibited arms into Nigeria with the aim of sending them to nearby Gambia.
The Iranian said he needed his embassy to represent him before he could present his plea.
Two of the three Nigerian defendants were only charged with conspiring to re-export the illegal shipment to Gambia.
All four men are reported to be in custody in the Nigerian capital.
"This is a matter of great national importance, and if I may add, it has international implications," said prosecutor Matthew Idakwo. "These arms were imported from Iran to our country. It is of great interest to the world."
The weapons cache was discovered in containers at Apapa seaport in Lagos in October.
Nigeria reported the seizure of the shipment to the UN Security Council for an apparent breach of sanctions on Iran.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Azim Aghajani said he needed his embassy to represent him before he could enter a plea Related stories
An Iranian man has been charged with arms trafficking in a Nigerian court, in connection to a shipment of weapons intercepted at a port last month.
Azim Aghajani appeared in court in Abuja, but did not enter a plea.
Court documents reportedly identified him as a Tehran businessman, and also a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Three Nigerian nationals were charged in connection with the shipment, which included rockets and other explosives hidden amongst building materials.
The court said Mr Aghajani had been charged with attempting to import prohibited arms into Nigeria with the aim of sending them to nearby Gambia.
The Iranian said he needed his embassy to represent him before he could present his plea.
Two of the three Nigerian defendants were only charged with conspiring to re-export the illegal shipment to Gambia.
All four men are reported to be in custody in the Nigerian capital.
"This is a matter of great national importance, and if I may add, it has international implications," said prosecutor Matthew Idakwo. "These arms were imported from Iran to our country. It is of great interest to the world."
The weapons cache was discovered in containers at Apapa seaport in Lagos in October.
Nigeria reported the seizure of the shipment to the UN Security Council for an apparent breach of sanctions on Iran.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.