Navy confirms first convictions under new anti-piracy law

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Tuesday, has confirmed the first conviction by the Federal High Court (FHC), Port Harcourt, Rivers State of three out of nine persons accused of hijacking an Equatorial Guinea flagged vessel on March 21, 2020 under the new Anti-Piracy law.

Justice Ishaq Sani on Monday summarily convicted the accused on Counts 1 and 2 under the new Anti-Piracy Act 2019.

Justice Sani, however, ordered them to pay a fine of N10 million each on each of the counts.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Commodore Suleman Dahun, who confirmed the development in a statement, listed the names of those convicted on Monday as; Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar and Ghane Gordon.

The Nigerian Navy had recently arrested nine people in connection with the crime that happened off Equatorial Guinea coast as well as reported that the kidnappers demanded a $2 million ransom out of which $200,000 ransom was eventually paid.

The Naval Chief in the statement maintained that after their arrest, the suspects were arraigned before the court on a 7 count charge, which all of the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

Their plea had made the counsel to the accused persons sought an application for bail pending the conclusion of the trial.

However, the matter was adjourned to August 10, 11 and 12, 2020 for ruling on the bail application and commencement of the trial.

The security agency buttressed that in the cause of the hearing, the prosecution filed an amended charge, which was dated August 7, 2020.

Justice Sani in his ruling on the bail application, rejected the request on grounds that the accused persons may not make themselves available to stand trial if granted bail and the court later arraigned the accused persons on the amended charges.

Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar and Ghane Gordon pleaded guilty to counts 1 and 2 and not guilty to counts 3 – 5 while the remaining six accused persons pleaded not guilty to the
charges against them during the proceedings.

Consequently, the prosecutor later applied to the court to withdraw the charges, which the accused persons pleaded not guilty and was granted and the accused persons were discharged on counts 3 – 5.