Navy arraigns 16 foreign nationals over alleged oil theft
THE Nigerian Navy, yesterday, arraigned 16 foreign nationals before a Federal High court in Port Harcourt over alleged oil theft.
The suspects are facing a three- count charge of conspiracy, falsefully pretending to be victims of maritime offences to evade lawful interception by Nigerian Navy Ship Gongola and attempting to deal in crude oil within a Nigerian exclusive economic zone without lawful authority.
The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to them.
Trial Judge, Turaki Muhammed, after listening to the prosecution’s application on the amended charge, ordered that the suspects be remanded in their vessel.
Justice Muhammed, who adjourned the case to November 15, to enable the remaining 10 nationals to take their plea, advised that they be allowed to see their
lawyers and receive medical attention if the need arises.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Abidenmi Adewumi- Aluko urged the court to allow the amended charges and ordered that the suspects be taken to the vessel, which the defence counsel, Udoka Ezeobi did not oppose, and was subsequently granted by the court before the adjournment.
The Guardian gathered that 26 Foreign Nationals were arrested onboard the MT HEROIC IDUN crude oil vessel at Akpo oilfield within Rivers State on August 7, 2022 by the Nigerian Navy.
The Navy said the suspects, mainly Sri Lankan, Indians. They were arrested after an investigation showed that they entered the Akpo oilfield without authorisation or clearance by relevant government agencies.
The Captain of the Vessel, Mehta Tanuj shortly after the court proceedings, told newsmen that he and his crew were innocent as they were just following orders from higher authorities. He said: “We came to Nigeria on August 8. We had a misunderstanding at the terminal and the documents, which were supposed to be filed by the ship’s agents, but there were some misunderstandings relating to the document and in the night we had an incident with the vessel, which then we did not know was the Nigerian Navy. As guided by my higher authority and owners, we managed to take all the advice from them and on August 12, we were arrested by Equatorial Guinea Navy Ship and taken to Equatorial
Guinea on August 14. We were there and later handed over to the Nigerian Navy.
“We have no misunderstanding, I and the ship crew, we are innocent. We were just following orders, which have been provided for us.”
The Navy authorities said the brazen act of defiance to constituted authority by the Captain of the vessel necessitated the Nigerian Navy to invoke the collaboration of neighbouring Equatorial Guinea through the Yaoundé Architecture to arrest the vessel .
A Navy surveillance facility was used to track and constantly update the Equatorial Guinea Navy on the location of the rogue vessel.
The Navy said MT. Heroic vessel is currently being held at the Luba Anchorage in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, where the country is conducting her own investigation, while they await diplomatic procedures for handing over to the Nigerian Navy.