Buhari regime releases Norwegian tanker seized for oil theft after bargain

The Nigerian Navy on Sunday returned a Norwegian-registered vessel, MT Heroic Idun, caught attempting to steal Nigeria’s crude oil in August 2022.

The navy arrested the oil tanker and its 26 Indian, Pilipino, Sri Lankan and Polish nationals in August 2022, and later convicted them in court and fined $15 million.

Mohammed Adamu, commanding officer, Forward Operating Base, Bonny, handed over MT Heroic Idun to its owner, Idun Maritime Limited, at Bonny, Rivers, after meeting the plea bargain conditions.

He said after the seizure of the merchant ship, its crew members were charged to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for trial in January.

“The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MT Heroic Idun and its 26 foreign crew were arrested after entering Nigeria’s waters unauthorised with intent to lift crude oil.

“Subsequently, they were charged to court and later pleaded guilty as well as elected voluntarily to enter into a plea bargain agreement with Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Adamu said…