Nigerian Navy Secures First Conviction Under the New Anti-Piracy Law
THE [Nigerian] Federal High Court (FHC) Port Harcourt, on 23 July 2020, convicted three of nine accused persons who, on 21 March 2020, hijacked an Equatorial Guinea-flagged vessel, MV Elobey VI, off the Equatorial Guinea coast. Justice Ishaq Sani summarily convicted three men on counts 1 and 2.
The three were convicted under the new Anti-Piracy Act 2019 and ordered to pay a fine of 10 million Naira [$52,000 (£40,000)] each on each of the counts.
It could be recalled that the Nigerian Navy (NN) had arrested Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar, Ghane Gordon, Hassan Hakeem, Gregory Smith, Ofer Uket, John Mark, Chidi Amadi and Eze Amadi, who were suspected to be members of the kidnapping syndicate that undertook the hijacking incident.
It was reported that the kidnappers demanded for a $2 million ransom out of which $200,000 ransom was eventually paid.
After their arrest by the NN, the suspects were arraigned before the FHC, Port Harcourt on 23 Jul 2020 on a seven count charge to which all the accused person pleaded not guilty. As a result, the counsel to the accused persons made an application for bail pending conclusion of the trial. Accordingly, the matter was adjourned to 10, 11 and 12 August 2020 for ruling on the bail application and commencement of the trial.
During the hearing, the prosecution filed an amended charge dated 7 August 2020. In its ruling on the trial application, the bail application was not granted because the accused person may not make themselves available to stand trial if granted bail. Consequently, the court arranged the accused persons on the amended charges. During the proceedings, Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar and Ghane Gordon pleaded guilty to counts 1 and 2 and not guilty to counts 3 - 5 while the remaining six accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Accordingly, the prosecutor applied to the court to withdraw the charges on which the accused persons pleaded not guilty. The prayer was granted and the accused persons were discharged on counts 3 - 5.
The document was signed by Commodore Suleiman Dan for the Chief of the Naval Staff.
Source: Nigerian Navy Press Release