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15 Russian Arms Importers Get Bail  

A Federal High Court in Lagos this morning, admitted to bail, 15 Russians alleged to have imported arms into Nigeria illegally.

The suspects are: Zhelyazkov Andrey, 53, Savchenko Sergay, 36, Chichkanov Vasily, 49, Varigin Igor, 48, Komilov Alexandr, 32, Lopatin Alexey 38, Baranovskly Nikolay, 50, Mishin Pavel, 31, Lia Shubov, 33, Dmitry Bannyrn 40, Alexander Tsarikov, 44, Kononov Sergel, 44 Korotchenko Andrey, 23, Vorobev Mikal, 40, Stepan Oleksuik, 52, and their ship (MV Myre Seadiver)

Their ship is to be released on bond. The Russian Ambassador in Nigeria, has volunteered to take the 15 Russians on bail, while their ship is to be released on a bond of $500,000.

The ruling of the court was sequel to an application 18 February, filed before the court by Mr. Chukwumike Okafor, urging the court to release the accused Russians on bail while their ship should be released on bond.

Russians arrested for illegal arms importation, get bail

The prosecutor, E.A Ezebilo, said due to overriding national interest, he is not opposing the bail.

The presiding judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, asked the prosecutor to give the bail conditions he wanted.

Then, the prosecutor told the court that since the Russian ambassador has chosen to stand as surety to the Russians and signed an undertaking to produce them whenever they are needed, then the vessel will be released with a bond of $500,000.

Justice Okeke admitted them to bail, and the Ambassador stood as surety, while their vessel will be released on a bond of $500,000 guaranteed by First Bank.

The case has been adjourned till 10 April for trial.

The 15 Russians were  arraigned on four count of criminal charge of illegal importation of arms into Nigeria.

According to the third criminal charge filed by the court by Principal State Counsel from the Attorney General of Federation Office, Mr. E.A. Ezebilo, it was alleged that the sixteen Russians on or about  18 October, 2012 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court  did without a license import into Nigeria a cache of firearms and ammunition prohibited for importation under section 18 of the firearms act.

The captain of the ship, MV Myre Seadiver used for the importation of the arms and ammunition was arraigned separately  for unlawfully entering Nigeria through Nigeria’a territorial waters without due clearance and declaration of the goods carried on board of ship.

The Russians who could not understand English brought an interpreter from the Russian Embassy to interpret the charge to them. They all pleaded not guilty.

The Russian ship was seized on October 19 off the coast of Lagos by a naval patrol. Weapons found on the vessel included 14 AK-47 rifles with 3,643 rounds of ammunition as well as 22 Benelli MR1 rifles with 4,955 rounds of ammunition.

The intended destination or planned use of the arms was not clear.

In December, Russia’s foreign ministry said it had reached a deal to secure the release of the sailors, explaining that Nigeria had agreed to drop the case to preserve cordial relations between the two nations.

That pact, if it ever existed, appears to have been sidelined.

The vessel was said to have left the Cook Islands in the South Pacific and arrived in Nigeria’s waters without permission.

It reportedly belonged to the Moscow-based Moran Group and was flying a Dutch island flag at the time of its seizure.

—Akin Kuponiyi, Pm News