10 pirates in court for hijacking fishing vessel

19 suspected pirates were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly hijacking a fishing vessel, named FV Hai Lu Feng II, belonging to Haina Fishing Company.

The suspected pirates said to be residents of Nigeria, are Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi and Bright Agbedeyi.

Labaran Magaji, from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which is prosecuting the suspects, informed 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, a fishing vessel belonging to Haina Fishery Company, by putting them in fear in order to take control of the vessel.”

Magaji, said the defendants committed the offence in May this year on the international water at Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, thereby violating Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019 and were liable to punishment under Section 2 of the same Act.

The defendants however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting Justice Faji to adjourn the case till July 15, 2020, for the hearing of the defendants’ bail applications and commencement of trial.

He however ordered the suspects to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Navy, which brought them to court amidst heavy security.