Daily Independent Online.
*
Tuesday, June 22, 2004.
Bunkering: Nwabueze to testify for Russians
By Alex Oni
Correspondent, Lagos
Foremost constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben
Nwabueze (SAN), will on June 30 at a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos
testify in a case of bunkering preferred against 13 Russians.
Leading counsel to the Russians, Chief Emefo Etudo,
stated this on Monday while asking for an adjournment from Justice Gloria
Okeke.
In a letter personally signed by Etudo dated June 21,
2004, addressed to Justice Okeke with the title “Federal Republic of
Nigeria vs Pakhomov Valeriy, charge No. FHC/L/39C/2004. Application for
Adjournment,” he stated that “our last witness is Professor B.O.
Nwabueze (SAN), on behalf of the
accused persons we have instructed him to give written expert opinion in this
case and to testify before we close the case for the defence.”
“Our said expert witness who is our last
witness has made further requests from us, including asking the court for
adjournment. His said request is contained in his letter of 17th June, 2004 and
is attached herewith.”
Though, Etudo asked that the case be adjourned to
July 5, for conclusion of the case of the defence and address and even offered
to address the court same day, the matter was however adjourned to June 30.
Nwabueze’s letter dated June 17, which was also
attached to Etudo’s letter equally asked for two weeks adjournment.
The letter states: “Taking into account the
time it will take to prepare an expert opinion on a matter of considerable
legal complexity, I suggest you pray the honourable court for two weeks
adjournment. Subject to the court’s convenience, any date between 5th and
9th of July, 2004 will be alright for me.”
The 13 Russians, Pakhomov Valeriy, Tkachev Valeriy,
Kravtsov Andrey, Martemyanov Ivan, Jorbenadze Suckhan, Altudokov Sergey,
Stognienko Andrey, Kolesnikov Vladimir, Krasitskiy Andrey, Mazihu Radu, Drague
Valerica, Kireev Vladimir and Przorov Andrey were arraigned before Justice
Gloria Okeke by the police from Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID),
Alagbon, Lagos, accused of conspiring with others still at large, on October 8,
2003 at off forcados, within the Nigerian territorial waters and within the
jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, “to convey about 11,300 metric
tons of crude oil valued at about N345,000,000 in a vessel named M.T. African Pride,
without lawful authority or an appropriate licence and thereby committed an
offence punishable under section 10(6) of the Special Tribunal (Miscellaneous
Offences) Act cap 410, volume 22, laws of the federation of Nigeria,
1990.”
