Fifteen Russians, who were charged with
unlawful importation of arms into the country, were on granted
bail by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Okechukwu Okeke, in a ruling,
released the 15 defendants to the Russian Ambassador in Nigeria, who
would have to ensure the accused were in court whenever the need arises.
He also granted bail to the ship, MV Myre Seadiver, charged along with the 15 accused, in a bail bond of $500,000 to be guaranteed by First Bank Plc.
The accused had on February 19 pleaded
not guilty to the four counts of alleged unlawful importation,
possession of firearms and non-declaration of the content of the vessel.
The charges were instituted against them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The accused are Zhelyazkov Andrey,
Savchenko Sergel, Chichkanov Vasily, Varlygin Igor, Komilov Alexander,
Lopatin Alexey and Baranovskly Nikolay.
Others are Mishin Pavel, Llia Shubov,
Dimitry Bannyrh, Alexander Tsarikov, Kononov Sergel, Korotchenko Andrey,
Vorobev Mikhail, and Stepan Oleksiuk.
The defendants’ counsel, Mr. Chukwuwike
Okafor, had assured the judge that his clients would attend their trial
if they were granted bail.
The prosecutor, Mr. Ernest Ezebilo, had
agreed that the defendants should be released on bail to the Russian
Ambassador in Nigeria, who should undertake to produce them in court
whenever the need arose.
Nevertheless, the judge asked the Russian Consul Officer, Mr. Radomir Ganich, to choose a bank from the bond would be obtained.
The judge adjourned till April 10 for hearing.
The accused and their vessel were said
to have been arrested by naval officers on October 18, 2012, within the
Nigerian territorial waters in Lagos State.
The prosecution alleged that the accused
and their vessel had entered the Nigeria waters without due licence and
clearance from the Nigerian Customs Service.
According to Ezebilo, the accused had
also refused to declare the content of the vessel, contrary to the
provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, 2002.
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