SAN FRANCISCO, June 06, (THEWILL) – Swiss authorities have filed a suit against Nigeria at the international court over the detention of its vessel, San Padre Pio.
The Nigerian navy in Bonny, Rivers state, had arrested the ship on January 23, 2018 as the oil tanker, registered with canton Vaud shipping company ABC Maritime, and its crew members were detained for alleged diesel smuggling, and violation of Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The navy then handed over the vessel and those arrested to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Switzerland had made diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the ship but nothing fruitful came out of that.
In a statement, the Swiss foreign ministry said on May 21, it requested the International Tribunal in charge of the law of the sea to order Nigeria to release the vessel, its crew and cargo.
The Swiss ministry said the ship and the cargo had been losing their value, causing damage to the companies involved.
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