Court Orders Detention Of 17 Foreigners, Arrested Over Alleged Oil Theft/ Sea Piracy

A federal High court sitting in port Harcourt has ordered that the 17 Crew members arrested by Nigeria Navy  be detained by Navy  ship to enable the rest crew members who were left to man the ship also take their plea.

They court adjourned to tomorrow Tuesday 15th November 2022. After the foreign Nationals pleaded not guilty to the three counts charges. bordering on Piracy, oil theft, Is also to enable the remaining ten come take their plea.

Nationality of of the sailors onboard the vessel includes India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Poland.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges was read to them, over alleged entering of Nigeria territorial water ways an offence Punishable under section 10 of 2019 maritime criminal and piracy laws  under section 12 in the amended charges

According to radio Nigeria Reports, The Nigerian Navy brought back a very large Crude Carrier, VLCC, suspected of crude oil theft, MT HEROIC IDUM which ran away but got arrested in Equatorial Guinea after she was intercepted for unlawful entrance into Akpo Oil Field Bonny to lift crude oil.

The feat was achieved through a sustained operation by Nigerian Navy which mobilized about five ships including NNS IKENNE and NNS OJI as well as team of renowned journalists from reputable media organizations for the voyage that lasted for eight days to and from Equatorial Guinea following intense diplomatic negotiations between both countries.

Nigerian Navy brought back the very large Crude Carrier, VLCC, suspected of crude oil theft, MT HEROIC IDUM which ran away but got arrested in Equatorial Guinea after she was intercepted for unlawful entrance into Akpo Oil Field Bonny to lift crude oil.

The feat was achieved through a sustained operation by Nigerian Navy which mobilized about five ships including NNS IKENNE and NNS OJI as well as team of renowned journalists from reputable media organizations for the voyage that lasted for eight days to and from Equatorial Guinea following intense diplomatic negotiations between both countries.

However, on interrogation by Nigerian Navy Inshore Patrol Craft, NNS GONGOLA, it was discovered that she does not have both NNPC approval and Naval clearance and was subsequently instructed to proceed to Bonny anchorage for further instructions.

The captain of MT IDUM flouted the instructions and sailed out of Nigerian waters towards Nigerian-Sao Tome and Principe joint Development zone into Equatorial Guinea, where it was arrested.

However, on interrogation by Nigerian Navy Inshore Patrol Craft, NNS GONGOLA, it was discovered that she does not have both NNPC approval and Naval clearance and was subsequently instructed to proceed to Bonny anchorage for further instructions.

The captain of MT IDUM flouted the instructions and sailed out of Nigerian waters towards Nigerian-Sao Tome and Principe joint Development zone into Equatorial Guinea, where it was arrested.