The Nigerian Navy has said that the tanker and crew that were arrested over crude oil theft allegations must pay penalties before release.
Vanguard reported that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said this on Monday, May 8.
He declared that the tanker, MT Heroic Idun, and it’s 26 crew members that were arrested last year over crude oil theft activities must pay penalties.
This development follows an order of release by the court after a plea bargain.
Gambo said, “It is to be noted that the vessel and crew will not be released until the penalty and restitution are paid as well as public apologies made in the print and electronic media in Nigeria and Llyod’s list.
“The successful arraignment and conviction of Motor Tanker HEROIC IDUN and her crew arrested last August, sentenced after a plea bargain to pay N5 million as a penalty for the charge and $15 million as restitution to the country, is a resilient indication that the Nigerian Navy, as the nation’s maritime sentinel, will stop at nothing to ensure the domain is safer for sustainable development of the nation’s blue economy.”
Following its arrest in August 2022 by the Equatorial Guinea authorities, the tanker and its crew were handed over to the Nigerian Navy for further investigations.
The vessel entered Nigerian waters, specifically the Akpo Oilfield, deep offshore Bonny, a joint venture operated by Total Energies EP, to load crude oil at about midnight on August 7, 2022.
The vessel was accosted by a Nigerian Navy ship on patrol on August 8, 2022 (shortly after midnight) for not having due Nigerian National Petroleum Company approval and naval clearance.
At the time, the Nigerian authorities said the vessel had not loaded any oil before the Navy approached it, but said the ship made a false claim of a piracy attack, entered a restricted area without authorization, and attempted to load crude oil illegally.
