Punch News
The foreign nationals were caught onboard a vessel, MT Heroic Idun.
According to the charges, the foreigners had, in August 2022, at the Akpo Oilfield in Rivers State, conspired among themselves and committed maritime offences.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges said to contravene Section 10 of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019.
A Navy surveillance facility was said to have tracked and updated the Equatorial Guinea Navy on the location of the vessel, currently being held at the Luba Anchorage in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
Captain of the vessel, Metha Tanuj, shortly after the court appearance, told newsmen how they came into Nigeria.
He said, “We came into Nigeria on 8 August. We had some misunderstandings relating to our documents which were supposed to be filed by the ship’s agent.
“In the night, we had an incident with a vessel which we didn’t know at the time as the Nigerian Navy. As a company, we managed to take all actions as advised by our higher authorities.”
Tanuju admitted that they were first arrested by the Equatorial Guinea Navy Ship.
“We arrived Equatorial Guinea and were there until we were handed over to the Nigerian Navy,” he added.
