Crime and Metro

Court sentences 10 pirates to prison for hijacking Chinese vessel

The Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced ten pirates to a total of 12 years in prison and a fine of N250,000 on each offence.

On May 15, 2020, the Nigerian Navy (NN) rescued the vessel’s 18 crew members.

Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, and David Akinseye were among the accused in the case.

Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi, and Bright Agbedeyi are some of the other names on the list.

They were charged on 3 counts of offences contravening Section 3, 10 and 12 of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019.

Justice Ayokunle Faji stressed that piracy has been an embarrassment to the nation and has impacted the economy negatively.

The judge stated that punishment for such crime must be proportionate to the offence committed by the convicts to serve as deterrence to others.

The lead prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji, averred that the verdict would send strong warning to criminal elements.

The defence counsel announced that the judgment would be appealed.

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