Four Ukrainians – Vaskov Andriy, Garchev Mykhaylo, Shula Madyslay and Orlovkyi Lyvan accused of illegal oil bunkering by the Federal Government of Nigeria have been discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Also, a vessel charged with them was discharged and acquitted by the court.
The four men and the Vessel, MT. San Pedro PIO, were arraigned before the court on March 21, 2019 on initial two count charge of conspiracy to deal in petroleum products and dealing in petroleum products without permit. The charge was later amended and increase to six counts.
Adamu Turaki Mohammed, the presiding judge, discharged and acquitted the Ukrainians and their ship after finding them not guilty on all the six counts. In his ruling, Justice Turaki declared that there was no evidence that they broke the law. Thus, he ordered that their vessel, which was seized, should be released forthwith.
The offences of conspiracy to deal in petroleum products, dealing in petroleum products, making false documents and uttering documents alleged to have been committed by the defendants are contrary to sections 3(6) and 1(17)(a), 1 (2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2007. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution said MT San Padre Pio and 16 all-male crew members were arrested by the Nigerian Navy in September 2018.
The team of the prosecuting counsels led by Samuel Chime called nine witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits.
But the defendants denied the allegations. Their counsel, Barrister Babajide Koku, SAN, leading six other senior counsels called five witnesses and tendered three exhibits.
Koku argued that the allegations were baseless because the defendants obtained appropriate authorisation for their operations.
In his ruling, Justice Turaki upheld Koku’s submission and said the prosecution failed to prove its case.
He declared: “By virtue of the sale agreement between AUGUSTA Energy and ANOSYKE Group of Companies, the amended purchase order together with evidence of Prosecution Witness 6 under cross-examination, who admitted that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) import permit is valid, I have no doubt that the Prosecution has failed to prove that the defendants had no licence or authority to deal in petroleum product. I so hold.
“…Again, Exhibit A1 – Navy verification certificate, has shown that Naval approval was obtained in respect of Exhibit J – product (cargo) on board while the Department of Petroleum Resources import permit attached to Exhibit 63 has shown that the necessary permit was equally secured in respect of Exhibit J from the DPR.
“It is clear both from Exhibit A1- Navy verification certificate and the DPR permit, that the company in whose favour the approvals were granted is ANOSYKE Group of Companies.
“Similarly, as I have held above that the Prosecution has failed to prove Count 2 of the charge against the Defendants, I am equally unable to infer, from the entire evidence adduced by the prosecution, how the Defendants conspired with each other to, without lawful authority or appropriate licence import; distribute or deal in/with Petroleum Product as contained in Count 1, particularly having regard to Exhibit A1 and the DPR permit attached to exhibit G3 – the letter of their solicitor. I so hold
“Accordingly, therefore, the defendants are found not guilty as charged and are hereby discharged and acquitted.
“As a consequence, the order made on the 26th of September 2018 in respect of Exhibit J – the product cargo on board is hereby vacated.”