Court orders arrest of three Russians for evading criminal trial

A FEDERAL High Court Lagos yesterday issued a bench warrant against three Russians, who allegedly absconded from trial and revoked the bail granted others, standing trial with the ‘missing’ suspects.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba also summoned a new generation bank following the disappearance of three foreigners, who are being tried for allegedly dealing in 1,738.087 metric tons of crude oil in Nigeria without lawful authority.

The judge said the bank should appear before him on February 16, 2016 to show cause why it should not forfeit the N150m, being the bond issued by the bank to guarantee the bail granted the ‘missing’ foreigners by the court.

The three Russians had since June last year been standing trial along with 11 other foreigners before Justice Buba.

The names of all the accused were given as Artur Pakhladzhian, Sergo Abbgarian, Vasily Shkundich, Vitaliy Bilours, Hlarion Regipor, Laguta Oleksiy and Cadavis Gerarado.
Other are Kretov Andry, Badurian Benjamin, Chepikov Olksan, Naranjo Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Caratiquit Beyan.

Justice Buba, in a bench ruling, granted Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo’s applications and issued a bench warrant against the missing Russians.

Noting that the bail was guaranteed by the bank, the judge ordered the bank to appear before him on February 16 to show cause why it should not forfeit the sum of N150m, being the bail bond covering the missing Russians. He also revoked the bail of the 11 other defendants.

They were said to have been handed over to the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy, which on March 27, 2015 intercepted them with their vessel, MT Anukpet Emerald, loaded with crude oil estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.