A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday has convicted 14 foreigners of dealing in petroleum products in Nigeria without lawful authority.
The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba found them guilty of dealing in 1,738.087 metric tons of petroleum product in Nigeria without lawful authority or licence as alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts include three Russians – Pakhladzhian Artur, Kretov Andrey, Shkundich Vasily; three Ukrainians – Laguta Oleksiy, Chepikov Oleksandr, Bilous Vitalli; Seven Filipinos – Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Regidor Hilarion, Naranjo Allan Antero,Patero Christian, Alkyde Joel, Caratiquit Micheal Bryan, and one Georgian – Agbarian Sergo.
The convicts were arraigned on June 10, 2015 by the anti-graft agency on four-count charge of conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The judge said the sentence would run from last year March when they were apprehended by the Nigerian Navy and handed over to the EFCC.
The judge convicted and sentenced them in absentia and issued a warrant for their arrest, emphasising that their jail term would commence on whatever day they are re-arrested.
They were sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option to a pay a fine of N2m each.
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