NIGERIA: The lengthy trial of 15 eastern European sailors charged with smuggling oil continues as judges in a Nigerian court have yet to reach a verdict

Record ID: 236490

  • Title: NIGERIA: The lengthy trial of 15 eastern European sailors charged with smuggling oil continues as judges in a Nigerian court have yet to reach a verdict
  • Date: 22nd October 2005
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAPTAIN PAKHOMOV VALERIY, CAPTAIN OF THE OIL TANKER AFRICAN PRIDE, SAYING: "Today we are arriving for the 31st time from March 2004 when the court hearing started. 31 times we have been here. I suppose it is an endless procedure. I cannot say definitely, I suppose only God knows (when the case will end)."
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAC159VHINSPWVJUANEXJ5BYDJQ
  • Story Text: The lengthy trial of 15 sailors including 12 Russians, a Georgian and two Romanians accused of stealing thousands of tonnes of Nigerian crude oil continued on Friday (October 21) as the judges on the case postponed judgement yet again.
    The sailors were recently released on bail after the Russian government protested against a prolonged, almost two-year detention of the men and the lengthy period of the trial, which started in March 2004.
    Joining the men in court on Friday were two of the sailors' wives. The women have petitioned the Nigerian government to set their husbands free on the grounds that the judges have not been able to come to a decision.
    "We have come to support our husbands and be near them on the day of the trial hoping that they will be released soon. They are not guilty," said one of the women, Tetyana Eliernakova.
    The sailors were arrested aboard the tanker African Pride by Nigerian security forces in the October 2003 and charged with stealing 11,300 tonnes of crude oil.
    The defence has argued that the Nigerian court has no power to try the case because the vessel was arrested 31 miles from the coast, beyond the 12 mile limit that demarcates Nigeria territorial waters.
    The court will reconvene on October 31.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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