28th January, 2013
A Nigerian magistrate court in Lagos has extended by 14 working days, the remand order on 15 Russian sailors detained over an alleged illegal importation of firearms and ammunition into the country.
The men in custody are crew members of the MV Myre Seadiver, a merchant vessel flying the Cook Islands Flag, arrested by the Nigerian Navy in Nigerian waters.
They are : Zhelyazkov Andrev, 53, Captain; Savchnko Sergey, 36; Chichkanov Vasily, 49; Varlygin Igor, 48; Komilov Alexandr, 32; Lopatin Alexey, 38; Baranovskly Nikolay, 50; Mishin Pavel, 31; and Llia Shubov 33.
Others are Dmitry Bannyrh, 40; Alexander Tsarkov, 44; Kononov Sergel, 44; Korotchenko Andrey, 23; Vorobev Mikhail, 40, and Stepan Oleksiuk, 52.
The magistrate at Tinubu, on Lagos island, Mrs Oyindamola Ogala, extended the remand order as she took over the case from Mrs Adeola Adedayo, who has been redeployed to another court following a reshuffle in the Lagos State Judiciary.
Ogala, in making the order, reduced the 30-day extension which the Prosecutor, SP Effiong Asuquo, of the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, requested to enable the prosecution to perfect the charges against the Russians.
She charged all the relevant agencies to quickly finalise their investigations and properly arraign the men by Feb. 14.
Asuquo had told the court that the prosecution needed 30 days as it was awaiting legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation.
He said that the prosecution also needed time to conclude its investigations to ensure proper charges against the Russians.
The prosecutor said that several government agencies were involved in the process, explaining the need for more time.
Asuquo listed the government agencies to include the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Both Counsel to the Russians, Mr Edidiong E. Idiong, and Mr Segun Sipeolu, however, argued that the men had been in government custody in the last four months and should be granted bail.
“These men have been in detention since October 19, 2012, and that was enough time for proper charges to be instituted against them; an extra month would only elongate their suffering.
“If the police and other agencies involved could not file proper charges within that time, they will still not do so in the next month,” Idiong said. Sipeolu agreed with him.
The counsel prayed the court to grant the men bail on terms convenient to the court pending when the attorney-general and the police are ready to file charges.
They submitted that granting the men bail would not in any way interfere with the course of justice. The Nigerian Navy arrested the men on 18 October, 2012, over an alleged illegal entry into Nigeria’s territorial waters.
Among items recovered from the ship were arms and ammunition, including 14 assorted AK 47 rifles, 3,643 ammunition and 20 Benelli MRI 20mm barrel rifles with 4,995 ammunition.
Following a formal application by the Lagos State commissioner of police, the Russians were remanded on Jan. 11
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Alexander D. Polyakov, on Jan. 16 applied for their bail on humanitarian grounds.
Polyakov said that he would accommodate the men at the Russian Embassy and produce them to the authorities when required.
The court had directed that copies of the processes should be served on the prosecution and adjourned the case till Monday.