NIGERIA: Russian crew members of the Myre Seadiver appear at the Federal High Court in Lagos charged with illegal possesion of arms

Record ID: 235972

  • Title: NIGERIA: Russian crew members of the Myre Seadiver appear at the Federal High Court in Lagos charged with illegal possesion of arms
  • Date: 19th February 2013
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (FEBRUARY 19, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JUSTICE STATUE OUTSIDE COURT NIGERIAN FLAG SIGN READING (ENGLISH): "FEDERAL HIGH COURT" VARIOUS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN NIGERIA PEOPLE GATHERING VARIOUS OF MILITARY GUARDS AND THE RUSSIAN CREW MEMBERS ON TRIAL WALKING INTO THE COURT VARIOUS OF GUARDS OUTSIDE THE COURT SIGN READING (ENGLISH): "JUSTICE LAMBO HALL" GUARDS IN A DOORWAY VARIOUS OF GUARDS AND THE RUSSIAN CREW MEMBERS DEPARTING COURT VARIOUS OF COURT COUNCIL AND MEDIA GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (English) COUNCIL, ERNEST EZEBUILO, SAYING: "There are four counts of illegal importation and possession of fire arms and non-declaration of those contents in the cargo, so that's basically the four counts charge. Then what actually transpired in the court today was they were arraigned and, in the process of arraigning them, they filed a bail application which was not considered because they only served us this morning." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE COURT
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2VWZR2QBGZ58FGRYA9H3I5JQ9
  • Story Text: The 15 Russian crew members of the Myre Seadiver ship appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday (February 19), charged with the illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
    The crew were taken into court amidst a heavy military presence and pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
    "There are four counts of illegal importation and possession of fire arms and non-declaration of those contents in the cargo, so that's basically the four counts charged. Then what actually transpired in the court today was they were arraigned and, in the process of arraigning them, they filed a bail application which was not considered because they only served us this morning," said council member, Ernest Ezebuilo.
    The Nigerian authorities seized the ship in October 2012 and arrested 15 crew members on suspicion of arms smuggling after they found several guns and ammunition on the ship.
    The crew were remanded for not seeking permission before entering Nigeria's territorial waters and for not declaring the content of their cargo.
    The crew were the taken back to Ikoyi Prison where they are being held. The next hearing will be on February 25 to determine if bail will be granted.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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