16 Foreigners Arraigned In Nigeria For Oil Theft
NOT less than 16 foreigners have been arraigned at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for offences bordering on conspiracy, stealing, attempt to deal in crude oil and false pretences.
The foreign nationals, who were caught onboard a vessel, MT Heroic Idun, by a combined effort of Equatorial Guinea Navy and Nigerian Navy, had in August this year, at the Akpo Oilfield in Rivers State, allegedly committing the offences in contravention of Section 10 of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019.
Although they have pleaded not guilty to the crime, after listening to the application of the prosecutors on the amended charges, Justice Turaki Muhammed ordered that the accused be remanded to enable 10 other suspects remaining to be brought to court to take their pleas.
Before adjourning the matter until November 15, Justice Muhammed advised that the accused be allowed to see their lawyers and get medical attention, if need be.
About 26 persons were said to be onboard the crude oil vessel at the Akpo Oilfield within the Rivers State waters when it was intercepted on August 7, this year by the Nigerian Navy.
A Navy surveillance facility was said to have tracked and updated the Equatorial Guinea Navy on the location of the vessel, currently being held at the Luba Anchorage in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
Captain of the vessel, Metha Tanuj, shortly after the court appearance, told newsmen how they came into Nigeria: “We came into Nigeria on August 8. We had some misunderstandings relating to our documents, which were supposed to be filed by the ship’s agent.
“In the night, we had an incident with a vessel, which we didn’t know at the time as the Nigerian Navy. As a company, we managed to take all actions as advised by our higher authorities.”
Tanuju admitted that they were first arrested by the Equatorial Guinea Navy Ship, adding: “We arrived Equatorial Guinea and were there until we were handed over to the Nigerian Navy.”
