A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday sentenced 10 pirates to twelve years imprisonment each for hijacking a Chinese fishing vessel, FV Hai Lu Feng II, in May 2020.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji also ordered each of the pirates to pay a fine of one million naira each.

The convicts – all men – are Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwaki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi and Bright Agbedeyi.

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They were arraigned by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on July 13, 2020 on a four-count charge bordering on hijacking of the 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, following which trial commenced.

Delivering his judgment on Friday, Justice Faji said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the pirates did hijack the vessel, FV Hai Lu Feng II, belonging to Haina Fishing Company.

Justice Mohammed Sani summarily convicted Binaebi Johnson, Daniel Lemmar and Ghane Gordon on Counts 1 and 2 and they were ordered to pay a fine of N20 million each under Nigeria’s new anti-piracy law signed in 2019.

“I agree with the prosecution counsel Labaran Magaji that the prosecution has proved the essential ingredients of the offense committed by each of the defendants. The defendants conspired to commit the illegal act.

“All the defendants acted in hijacking the ship to achieve their common goal. Consequently, I find each of the defendants guilty as charged in all the counts. Each defendant is hereby sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. In addition, the defendants should pay a fine of one million naira each.

“The offence committed by the defendants affects the wellbeing of Nigerians and our image in the diaspora. The naira sum, dollars and various currencies recovered from the defendants by the Nigerian Navy are hereby forfeited to Federal Government of Nigeria,” Justice Faji ruled.

The defendants were arrested in May this year by the Nigerian Navy.

In the course of the trial, government prosecutors told the court that the defendants, while armed with weapons, committed the 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, Laraban Magaji said they violated Section 3 of Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019, punishable under Section 2 of the same Act.

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