The Russian embassy in Nigeria has commended the country for the drop of the case of 15 Russian sailors that has been held since October 2012 for alleged arms trafficking.

It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Lagos did on Tuesday, struck out the names of Russian seamen and substituted the charge with that of a Nigerian firm who was said to have misguided the seamen into breaking the rule.

The embassy’s spokesman, Ilya Baranov, who confirmed their release, said the embassy in Nigeria welcomed the dropping of the charge on sailors as an “Objective verdict” and has expressed its gratitude to the Nigerian authorities for the decision.