A Federal High Court in Lagos will on Feb. 18, 2014 begin substantive trial of 11 fishermen charged with pipeline vandalism.
The accused are: Sidi Egbayelo, 29; Sunday Shadrach, 39; Edem Okon, 30; Godwin Kofa, 28; Rosemon Neito, 30; Ejona Kpamkpam, 23; Moses Victor, 28.
Others are: Chris Sunday, 29; Peter Gay, 21; Remo Uchugwu, 23, and Mike Sabato, 29.
They are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism, stealing and unlawful possession of petroleum products.
The case, which was adjourned till Wednesday for the prosecution to call its first witness, could not hold due to absence of the judge, Justice Musa Kurya.
The judge is said to be on official assignment.
Meanwhile, the accused are still remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons because they are yet to meet their bail conditions.
The court granted them bail in the sum of two million naira with two sureties each.
NAN reports that the accused were arraigned on Feb. 7. They pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Mr Justin Enang, had submitted that the police arrested them with 220 drums of petrol worth N5.33 million at 1.00p.m. on Dec. 21, 2012, at the Atlas Cove, Lagos.(NAN)
