NIGERIA MAKES HISTORY

Nigeria yesterday made history when a suspected sea robber was arraign before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The suspect; one Charles Okafor was however granted bail.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang granted bail to Charles Okafor, who is standing trial for hijacking an oil vessel.
The judge granted Okafor bail in the sum of two million naira with one surety in like sum.

Nigeria yesterday made history when a suspected sea robber was arraign before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The suspect; one Charles Okafor was however granted bail.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang granted bail to Charles Okafor, who is standing trial for hijacking an oil vessel.
The judge granted Okafor bail in the sum of two million naira with one surety in like sum.
Abang said, however, that the surety must be a Federal Government employee of grade level 12 and above and must produce a letter of appointment and identification from his employer.
He said the essence of bail was not to serve as a punishment, but to ensure the attendance of the accused in court.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that Okafor was arraigned on Aug. 16, on a two-count charge of hijacking and stealing petroleum products from vessels in Nigeria's coastal waters.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Moving the bail application earlier, his counsel, Mr Nelson Imoh, argued that the alleged offence was bailable under Nigerian criminal law.
Imoh argued that an accused was presumed innocent until found guilty and that granting his client bail would by no means prejudice the prosecution's case.
He urged the court to discountenance the arguments of the prosecution that his client was a serial sea pirate.
However, the Prosecutor, Mr Jubril Usman, urged the court to deny the accused bail on grounds that that he was a pirate and had stolen property from different vessels at sea.
Usman said that the accused had on June 14 hijacked a marine chattel, conveying petroleum products.
He claimed that the product allegedly hijacked was worth N1.2 million, adding that the crew members were also dispossessed of their valuables.
He said that the offences contravened section 390 of the Criminal Code Act and section six of the Territorial Waters Act, 1998.
Further hearing on the case was adjourned to Nov. 26.