Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday sentenced nine foreigners, five Bangladeshis and four Filipinos, to five years in prison for illegally dealing in petroleum products.

The accused, Axel Joseph Gibo Jabone, MD Zahirul  Islam, Juanto Camireno Infantado, Suarin Fernando Alave, Gatila Jaypee Gadayan, Islam Shahinul, Islam Rafiqul, Shaikh Shibli Nomany and Rolando Jose Comendador, were arrested on March 28, 2015 during a routine patrol by men of the Nigerian Navy.

They were charged to court on a four-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The judge, however, gave them an option of N20 million fine each while the vessel used in conveying the crude, MT Asteris., was ordered to be forfeited to the federal government.

In another development, Justice Buba gave two years sentence each to two Nigerians, Alakinde Wale and Boniface Onuabuchi also dealing in petroleum products illegally.

The accused were said to have conspired in June 2014 to deal in petroleum products without permission.

They were however given a fine each of N500, 000, with the vessel used in the illegal activities, MV Zahra and its content be forfeited to the government.