According to the charge, the foreigners were said to have dealt in petroleum products without lawful authority or appropriate licence contrary to Section 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federal of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under Section 1(17) of the same Act.
EFCC’s lawyer told the court that the accused illegally dealt in 1,738.087 metric tons of petroleum product; 1,500 metric tons of automotive gas oil aboard MT Anukret Emerald’s cargo tank and 3,035 metric tons of low pour fuel oil, LPFO, aboard the same cargo on March 27.
The fourteen accused individuals are:
- Artur Pakhladzhian
- Sergo Abbgarian
- Vasily Shkundich
- Vitaliy Bilours
- Hlarion Regipor
- Laguta Oleksiy
- Cadavis Gerarado
- Kretov Andry
- Badurian Benjamin
- Chepikov Olksan
- Naranjo Antero
- Patro Christian
- Alcayde Joel
- Caratiquit Beyan
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The judge has granted them bail of of N50 million each, with one surety (who must be resident in Lagos) in like sum. The court also ordered that the accused be remanded in prison, pending compliance with the bail conditions. The case was has been adjourned to June 17, 18 and 19 for trial.