A Benin court has sentenced three Niger nationals to an 18-month suspended prison sentence as diplomatic dies between the two countries worsen.
Ties between Benin and Niger have been tense since last year's revolution that deposed Nigerien President Mohammed Bazoum and Benin's Atlantic port of Seme-Kpodji, which exports landlocked Niger's oil.
Earlier this month, five Nigerians were detained at Seme-Kpodji on charges of unlawfully entering the port.
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An AFP journalist said that on Monday, Benin's Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET) sentenced three to 18 months in jail with a suspension.
Moumouni Hadiza Ibra, Deputy General Director of Wapco-Niger, a local subsidiary of a Chinese business that operates a pipeline from Niger to Benin's coast, and two of her compatriots were imprisoned following their original arrest.
Wapco has not replied to emails for an answer.
On Monday, the court categorized the allegations as "usurpation of title and the use of falsified computer data."
According to an AFP journalist, lawyers representing the three suspects disputed the accusations.
Benin blocked the border as part of regional sanctions put on Niger following last year's coup, but it has since reopened. Niger's military leaders have refused to reopen their side.
Beninese President Patrice Talon has long constrained the start of shipping Nigerien oil from Benin's port on the reopening of the border.
Niamey said the detained crew was in Benin to monitor oil loading.
Niger's military administration branded the arrests as a "kidnapping" and stated that it was willing to "take all measures" to ensure their release "unconditionally."
According to Niger national television, the military dictatorship in Niamey shut down the oil pipeline valves the day after they were arrested.
