Last update - 00:00 10/10/2006
Israeli national among six charged with spying in Nigeria
By The Associated Press
Six people, including an Israeli citizen, were charged Tuesday with illegally obtaining classified defense documents in Nigeria.
Two of the other suspects were from Ireland and Romania, while the other three were Nigerian citizens.
Court papers alleged that the men worked with three Nigerian Defense Ministry officials to obtain information "related to a protected place." The information was to be passed on to the defense attache at the Russian Embassy in Nigeria, according to the court papers. Calls to the embassy Tuesday afternoon went unanswered.
The three foreigners and three Nigerians were brought to court in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, under tight security. Each pleaded innocent.
Judge Binta Murtala-Nyarko set the next hearing for November 21 before returning the suspects to prison.
The six face up to 14 years in jail if convicted.
Prosecutors said the alleged offenses were committed with a Russian and another Irish man now at large.