Rivers: landmark judgement on Anti-piracy don convict and fine 3 offenders N60 million
Federal High Court for Port Harcourt don give landmark judgement as dem convict three pipo for piracy and concealment of information under di Anti-Piracy Act of 2019.
Justice I.M.Sani wey deliver di landmark judgement find three pipo, two foreigners and one Nigerian guilty plus sentence and fine dem N10 million naira each for di two counts after dem plead guilty to di amended charges of piracy and concealment of information to security agencies. Dis mean say dem go pay total fine of N60 million, N20 million each. Lead Prosecutor from di Office of di Attorney General of di federation, Labaran Magaji say di judgment na landmark victory for di Anti-Piracy Act of 2019 as na di first conviction dem don get and e go serve as warning to any pesin wey wan commit any crime wey relate to piracy and kidnapping on di waterways. Dis judgement and di 2019 Anti-Piracy Act also don make am easy to prosecute pirates for di kontri. Merchant shipping industry bin don dey press Nigeria to take action as International Maritime Bureau IMB say Nigeria account for over 90% of maritime kidnappings, especially for di Gulf of Guinea. Di three pipo dey among nine odas wey dem bin first accuse of terrorism and kidnapping ova dia alleged involvement to facilitate payment of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) as ransom for kidnapped crew members of one Equatorial Guinea Vessel MV ELOBEY VI. Lawyer to di three convicted pesins, Abimbola Akereodolu SAN, say she go appeal di fine. Di court discharge six oda accused pesins for lack of evidence.