Application For Bail: 15 Russians Know Fate Today

A Tinubu Chief magistrate’s court will this afternoon hear the bail application of 15 Russians remanded in prison custody over illegal entry of their vessel into the Nigeria’s territorial waters with arms and ammunition.

When the matter was mentioned this morning, the police legal officer, Effiong Asuquo, told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation should take over the case and therefore  asked for stand down of the case till afternoon.

Consequently, the presiding Magistrate, Oyindamola Ogala, acceded to the request.

Meanwhile, the accused Russians  have served notice that they are going to be arraigned on 25 February.

On 18 October last year, the Nigerian Navy intercepted and arrested within Nigeria’s territory waters,  Marshal Vessel, Mygre Seadidia, a vessel flying cook Island flag with 15 crew members namely: Zhelyazkov Andrey, 53, Savchenko Sergey, 36, Chichukanov Vasily, 49, Varlgin Igor, 48, Komilov Alexandr 32, Lopatin Alexey, 38, Baranovskly Nikolay, 50, Mishin Pavel, 31, Llia Shubov, 33, Dmitry Bannyrn, 40, Alexandar Tsarikov, 44, Kononov Sergel, 44, Korotchouko Andrey, 23, Vorobev Mikal, 40, and Stepan Oleksiuk, 52.

Upon the search of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy, 14 assorted AK-47 rifles, with 3,643 ammunition, 20 velelli MRI 20ml barrel riffle with 4,995 ammunition were discovered on board the vessel, and the crew members had no license or authorisation to carry or possess the said arms.

The illegal entrance of the vessel into Nigeria’s territorial waters with arms and ammunition, without notification and failure to declare the item to the relevant government agencies, is a violation of Nigerian sovereignty and a criminal act with the intention to undermine the nation’s security.

—Akin Kuponinyi