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Convicted OFWs in Nigeria Given Lawyer

24th Feb. '09

Thirteen Filipinos convicted and sentenced for stealing crude oil in Nigeria have been given a lawyer by their employer, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday. DFA spokesman Bayani Mangibin said the owner of the M/T Akuada had retained a lawyer to handle the defense of the seamen, who were sentenced to five years in jail or a fine of one million Naira (around $6,800) for stealing 12,500 tons of crude oil from the Niger Delta.

Mangibin confirmed the seafarers' conviction last Friday but could not say if they would appeal the decision since he has yet to receive any information from the Philippine embassy in Lagos. Earlier, wire reports said the 13 Filipino seafarers pleaded guilty to the theft. The 13 were among 22 Filipinos arrested by a joint army-navy patrol on the Warri River on November 14, 2008.

Nigeria, one of Africa's largest oil producers, exporting some two million barrels of oil per day, loses an estimated 100,000 barrels of liters of crude or refined petroleum products every day to organized gangs that tap pipelines and siphon off tons of oil. Citing various kidnapping incidents, the Philippine government has a standing ban on Filipinos who want to work in Nigeria.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm