BNW

 

Biafra Nigeria World News & Archives

 

BNW News and Archives

 

 

BNW: the Authority on BiafraNigeria

BNW Magazine 

Biafra Nigeria World Forums and Message Board

 BNW News Archive

BNW Home

 

BNW Writer's Block

 WaZoBia @ BNW

Biafra Net

 Igbo Net

Africa World and BNW Africa 

Submit Article for Publication

BiafraNigeria Spacer

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

Flag of Biafra Nigeria

 

BNW News Archives

BNW News Archive 2002-January 2005

BNW News Archive 2005

BNW News Archive 2005 and Later

 

BiafraNigeriaWorld News: Weblogs Edition @ Blog Continent


« Don’t fly Nigerian airlines, U.S. warns citizens | Main | Assembly faction asks Ladoja to ignore impeachment notice »

December 15, 2005

Oil thieves sentenced in Nigeria

Fifteen Eastern European sailors have been sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to stealing 11,300 tonnes of Nigerian crude oil.

Judges immediately freed the men, who had already spent two years in custody in Nigeria.

They were arrested aboard the Greek-owned tanker African Pride by security forces in October 2003 and charged with stealing the oil.

The ship and its cargo later vanished from the custody of the Nigerian navy.

Two rear admirals were court-martialled for their involvement in the disappearance.

The ship has not been recovered, though Nigerian media have reported a sighting in the Arabian Gulf.

Plea bargain

Judge Gloria Okeke was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying the 15 men had pleaded guilty to reduced charges of illegal oil possession.

They were initially charged with oil-smuggling and economic sabotage, which would have led to much longer prison sentences if they had been convicted.

In September, the sailors were released on bail after diplomatic missions guaranteed they would show for their trial.

"I can't believe I'm free," ship engineer Ivan Martemyanov said as he received his seized passport from court officials. "Being in prison was the worst time in my life."

Nigeria, the world's eighth-biggest oil exporter, is estimated to lose between 100,000 and 250,000 barrels daily to oil thieves.


Posted by Publisher at December 15, 2005 03:36 PM

Comments

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?





BNW Writers A-M


BNW Writers N-Z

 

BiafraNigeria Banner

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BNW Forums

 

The Voice of a New Generation