Twelve Ghanaian fishermen have appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos, charged with vandalism and theft of petroleum products.
The accused include Ferdinard Gbadonde, Deny Atika, Isaac Zola, Raphael Awonsu, Friday Ukpati and Tose Loko.
Others are Kokunu Nanani, Kokunu Koku, Fatai Nkpati, Sule Nkpati, Medai Awonsu and Jeremy Agofia.
They are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism, stealing and illegal sale of petroleum products.
The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Twelve Ghanaian fishermen have appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos, charged with vandalism and theft of petroleum products.
The accused include Ferdinard Gbadonde, Deny Atika, Isaac Zola, Raphael Awonsu, Friday Ukpati and Tose Loko.
Others are Kokunu Nanani, Kokunu Koku, Fatai Nkpati, Sule Nkpati, Medai Awonsu and Jeremy Agofia.
They are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism, stealing and illegal sale of petroleum products.
The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The prosecutor, Mr Abayomi Adedayo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 12 at 4.00 a.m., and were apprehended in Nigerian territorial waters, close to Ibereko Village in Badagry, Lagos.
Adedayo said that items recovered from the accused include 540 25-litre kegs of petrol and 250 drums containing 250 litres of Kerosene each.
He said that the accused were on their way to Republic of Benin through Seme when they were intercepted with the products.
Adedayo said that police investigation revealed that the products were siphoned from a vandalised pipeline within the locality.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene the provisions of Sections 1 (7), 3 (c) and 117 of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
After the plea of the accused had been taken, the prosecutor applied that they be remanded in custody pending trial.
However, Mr Isaac Boro, the counsel to the accused, objected to their remand in custody and informed the court that he had earlier applied for their bail.
He told the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, that the accused had earlier been arraigned before Justice Okon Abang in August, during the court's vacation.
Boro said that he had filed a bail application dated Aug. 18, and urged the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms, especially as the offence for which they were charged was not a capital one.
He argued that the nationality of the accused was immaterial in determining bail, adding that he would ensure the provision of credible sureties to stand for them.
Objecting to the application, the prosecutor urged the court to refuse it on the ground that the accused would jump bail if granted.
He said that intelligence report showed that the accused were Ghanaians, who only came into Nigeria for the purpose of the illegal business and their addresses were situated outside the country.
Adedayo argued that they were arrested on the high sea on their way to Seme, arguing that the accused would abscond if granted bail.
The judge, in a short ruling, upheld the submissions of defence counsel on the ground that the nationality of an accused was not a determinant factor in granting bail.
Tsoho noted that although the prosecutor had argued that intelligence report showed that the accused were on their way out of Nigeria, he had failed to depose to that fact in his counter affidavit.
The judge held that the court was inclined to granting bail in favour of the accused and consequently, admitted them to bail in the sum of N2 million each, with one surety each in like sum.
He said that the sureties must be resident in Lagos, and must depose to an affidavit of means.
Tsoho, however, ordered the accused to be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, until they perfect their bail terms.
He adjourned the case till January 26 for trial.
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