10 charged to court as Nigeria deepens fight on piracy

Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has arrained ten suspected pirates before a Federal High Court in the Lagos Judicial Division.

The pirates were arrested few weeks ago by the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with NIMASA.

The ten suspected pirates will be the first set of culprits to be tried under the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act,2019 since it was signed to law under present administration in 2019.

Pirates

Report available to nation update indicates that the 10 alleged pirates were slammed with four Count Charges bordering on Piracy, Seized and Forceful taking possession of a fishing vessel while armed.

According to the Charge Sheet which was registered in the court on the 18th June, 2020 sighted by our Correspondent, the 10 alleged pirates were slammed with four Count Charges bordering on Piracy, Seized and Forceful taking possession of a fishing vessel while armed.

The Charge Sheet that was bearing date of registration in court as 18 June,2020 read in part,

” The Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Lagos Judicial Division Holden at Lagos.
Between Federal Republic of Nigeria ((Complainant) and Frank Insort Abaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adakole Philip, Mathew Masi and Bright Agsedeyi as (Defendants)”.

There are four count charges on them, one of the charges read, “That you Frank Insort Abaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adakole Philip, Mathew Masi Bright Agbedeyi and others at large all Male Adults and of various addresses in Nigeria, sometimes in May 2020 at Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit an act of Piracy by agreeing to hijack HAILU FENG II, a fishing vessel belonging to Haina Fishery Company. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act ,2019 and Punishable Under Section 12 of the same Act”.

Count two reads, “That you Frank Insort Abaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adakole Philip, Mathew Masi Bright Agbedeyi and others at large all Male Adults and of various addresses in Nigeria, sometimes in May 2020 on International Waters of Abijan, Côte D’Ivoire within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while Armed with Dangerous Weapons committed an illegal act of Violence against the onboard HAILU FENG II, a fishing vessel belonging to Haina Fishery Company by putting them in fear in order to takeover control of the vessel and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act ,2019 and Punishable Under Section 12 of the same Act”.

Count three reads, “That you Frank Insort Abaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adakole Philip, Mathew Masi Bright Agbedeyi and others at large all Male Adults and of various addresses in Nigeria, sometimes in May 2020 on International Waters of Abijan, Côte D’Ivoire within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while Armed with Dangerous Weapons knowingly DETAINED HAILU FENG II, a fishing vessel belonging to Haina Fishery Company by putting them in fear in order to takeover control of the vessel and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act ,2019 and Punishable Under Section 12 of the same Act”.

While Count four reads, “That you Frank Insort Abaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adakole Philip, Mathew Masi Bright Agbedeyi and others at large all Male Adults and of various addresses in Nigeria, sometimes in May 2020 on International Waters of Abijan, Côte D’Ivoire within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while Armed with Dangerous Weapons knowingly SEIZED HAILU FENG II, a fishing vessel belonging to Haina Fishery Company by putting them in fear in order to takeover control of the vessel and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act ,2019 and Punishable Under Section 12 of the same Act”.

Since may last month the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with NIMASA fought galantly to subdue and arrested the 10 pirates who attempted seizing a fishing vessel in the Nigerian waters, stakeholders have called got stronger tie among sister agencies as this for effective result