26 Foreign Nationals Charged to Court Over Crude Oil Theft Allegation
TANKER VESSEL
No fewer than 16 foreign nationals were on Monday charged to court over allegation of crude oil theft. The remaining 10 will today also be brought to court to face trial on the same allegation.
The 16 suspects appeared before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on a three count charge of conspiracy, evasion of lawful interception tanker vessel and attempting to deal in crude oil within Nigerian exclusive economic zone without lawful authority and pretending to be victims of maritime offences .
After the charges were read by Abidenmi Adewumi-Aluko, the suspects pleaded not guilty.
Justice Turaki Muhammed who presided over the case however ordered that they should be remanded in custody.
The case was adjourned to today when the remaining 10 nationals will take their plea.
The court however advised that the suspects be allowed to see their lawyers and also receive medical attention.
The 26 suspects were who are mainly Sri Lankan, Indians were arrested on board MT HEROIC IDUN on August 7, 2022, by the Nigerian Navy at Akpo oilfield in River state.
They were said to have entered the oil field illegally.
The vessel was later found in Equatorial Guinea probably after escaping from the Nigerian authorities, it was gathered.
But the Nigerian Navy after tracing the vessel later sought the assistance of the Equatorial Guinea which arrested the tanker and currently being detained at Luba Anchorage in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
It was gathered that the suspects were brought back to Nigeria with Nigerian Navy Ship Gongola to face trial over the allegation.
The 16 suspects appeared before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on a three count charge of conspiracy, evasion of lawful interception tanker vessel and attempting to deal in crude oil within Nigerian exclusive economic zone without lawful authority and pretending to be victims of maritime offences .
After the charges were read by Abidenmi Adewumi-Aluko, the suspects pleaded not guilty.
Justice Turaki Muhammed who presided over the case however ordered that they should be remanded in custody.
The case was adjourned to today when the remaining 10 nationals will take their plea.
The court however advised that the suspects be allowed to see their lawyers and also receive medical attention.
The 26 suspects were who are mainly Sri Lankan, Indians were arrested on board MT HEROIC IDUN on August 7, 2022, by the Nigerian Navy at Akpo oilfield in River state.
They were said to have entered the oil field illegally.
The vessel was later found in Equatorial Guinea probably after escaping from the Nigerian authorities, it was gathered.
But the Nigerian Navy after tracing the vessel later sought the assistance of the Equatorial Guinea which arrested the tanker and currently being detained at Luba Anchorage in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
It was gathered that the suspects were brought back to Nigeria with Nigerian Navy Ship Gongola to face trial over the allegation.
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