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Pirates sentenced to 12 years in prison

On July 23, 2021, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced 10 pirates to prison under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offenses, SPOMO ACT, for hijacking the 'Hai Lu Feng II' in May 2020. Justice Ayokunle Faji convicted the defendants, handing sentences of 12 years each. The convicted pirates have also each been fined. The convicts, who reside in Nigeria, are Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi, and Bright Agbedeyi. They were arraigned in July 2020 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for allegedly hijacking the Chinese vessel in international waters off the coast of Cote D’Ivoire. They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Navy, pending trial. Delivering his judgment on July 23, Justice Faji said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the pirates did hijack the vessel. Reacting to the landmark judgement, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh said that history has been made adding that a huge lacuna has been filled in the battle against maritime crimes in Nigeria and the entire Gulf of Guinea. In the course of the trial, the government told the court that the defendants “while armed with weapons, committed an illegal act of violence against the crew on board FV Hai Lu Feng II belonging to Haina Fishing Company by putting them in fear in order to take control of the vessel. Prosecution counsel, Mr Magaji, said they violated Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019, punishable under Section 2 of the same Act.