LAGOS: A Nigerian court yesterday dismissed charges against eight of 15 Russian seamen arrested in October for alleged illegal arms possession, but set a trial date later this week for the others.
The sailors’ vessel, the MV Myre Seadiver, was seized in October off the coast of Lagos by a naval patrol which also detained its 15 crew members. The vessel belongs to Moscow-based Moran Group, a private security firm.
Weapons found on the vessel included 14 AK-47 rifles with 3,643 rounds of ammunition as well as 22 Benelli MR1 rifles with 4,955 rounds of ammunition.
The defence has argued that the suspects were innocent and the ship was contracted to provide security to vessels in the region, which sees repeated pirate attacks.
Their lawyer also said permission was sought and secured before the vessel entered Nigeria’s territorial waters.
AFP
