THE 14 Filipinos that were nabbed by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta , July 10, in Bayelsa state for alleged crude oil theft and who were granted bail by a Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo state, August 7, after a Magistrate Court in Warri, Delta state refused them bail will appear in court again in Benin City, next Friday, August 20.

A source who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, yesterday, on the matter, clarified, "The Filipinos did not escape from prision custody, as was alleged by some persons, but were duly granted bail by a Federal High Court after a Warri Magistrate Court ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody".

"After they were granted bail on August 7 by a Federal High Court, the case was adjourned to August 13, they were in court and the next hearing is August 20, so this rumour that they escaped is not true", he added.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that so many interests have arisen in the case of the Filipinos because this was the first time foreign nationals were arrested in such a large number for illegal oil bunkering. They were originally to be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the JTF for prosecution , but, currently, the State Security Service (SSS) was said to be handling the matter.

The charges against the 14 Filipinos were that they conspired to commit felony, willful and malicious tampering with the free flow of petroleum products and dealing in petroleum products without lawful authority or appropriate licence.

The suspects are Rey Chavez, the captain of the vessel, Nelson Corpin, Anthonio Norgino, Tirso Olaviar, Jerome Competente, Joselin Gabion, Rexy Aldovino, Rito Bajoyo, Jun Garcenila, Judel Garcenila, Eugenio Mediano, Mark Dimaano, Jose Palimero and Loius Gvesania.

Defence Counsel, Paul Omozele had before the suspects were granted in Benin told the presiding magistrate in Warri that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter, citing relevant provisions in the constitution to drive home his points. Omozele noted that the Miscellaneous Offence Ac,t which the Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. Theodora Uloho cited was incongruous to the matter at hand.

The State DPP , however, urged to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending the determination of the matter.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. B. E. Osemwegie ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and fixed August 13, for mention of the case at the High Court, but, the counsel to the Filipinos went to the Federal High Court, Benin City, which granted them bail six days days before the next sitting of the magistrate court in Warri.