July 23, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, in Lagos State, has sentenced 10 pirates involved in the 2020 hijack of a merchant vessel, FV HAILUFENG II, to 12 years imprisonment each with a N250,000 fine on each count.
Jailed were: Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi, and Bright Agbedeyi.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Ayokunle Faji, ruled that piracy has been an embarrassment to the nation and has impacted the economy negatively.
Hence, Justice Faji stated that punishment for this act must be proportionate to the offence committed by the convicts to serve as deterrence to others.
The defence counsel, Labaran Magaji, who promised to appeal the judgement, said the verdict would send a strong warning to other criminal elements that Nigeria has zero-tolerance for maritime criminals and that Nigerian institutions, both Nigerian Navy, prosecuting agencies and security agencies are ready to counter criminal activities.
Recall that the Nigerian Navy (NN) had rescued 18 crew members of a Chinese vessel, FV HAILUFENG II, from pirates on May 15, 2020.
Subsequently, 10 suspects were charged before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
The suspects were charged to the counts on piracy with the offence contravening the provisions of Section 3, 10 and 12 of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019.
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