16 Russians Arraigned Over Arms Importation

Sixteen Russians were this afternoon arraigned at Federal High Court on four count of criminal charge of illegal importation of arms into Nigeria.

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)

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. Consequently, their lawyer, Chike Okafor and two other lawyers told the court that they have filed bail application and the prosecutor has been served.

However, the prosecutor, Mr. Ezebilo, told the court he was served this morning, therefore, he needed two days to file his response. The presiding judge while acceding to the request of the prosecutor, adjourned till 25 February when the bail application will be heard. 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.