Court Assumes Jurisdiction Over Alleged Foreigners’ Case, EFCC arraigns another Nine
Adetokunbo Fakeye
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has assumed jurisdiction over the case of 14 foreigners alleged to have been involved in illegal oil bunkering and have been arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba.
The accused persons had on Wednesday through their counsel, Babajide Koku (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the charges against them for lack of jurisdiction to hear the charges.
The foreigners made up of 8 Filipinos, 3 Russians and 3 Ukrainians, also claimed that they were not involved in any illegal activity.
Following Thursday’s ruling, the trial commenced immediately with the court taking the testimony of the arresting Officer, a Captain of the Nigerian Navy, Captain Chidozie Okehie.
The court thereafter adjourned the case to June 23 for cross examination of the Captain.
Meanwhile, another set of Nine foreigners have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the same court on a Four count of illegally dealing in petroleum products.
The offence was said to have been committed on March 27.
