Uchendu Mark – Port Harcourt
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has convicted three persons for piracy and concealment of information and fined them N20 million each.
Justice I. M. Sani sentenced the three persons and fined them the sum of N10 million each for each count, after they pleaded guilty to the amended charges of piracy and concealment of information from security agencies.
The three convicts will pay a fine of N20 million each.
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The three persons were among nine people earlier accused of terrorism and kidnapping for their involvement in facilitating the payment of $200,000 ransom for the kidnapped crew members of the Equatorial Guinea Vessel MV ELOBEY VI.
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Speaking to newsmen outside the court, the lead prosecutor from the office of the Attorney General, Labaran Magaji, said the judgment is a landmark victory for the Anti-piracy Act of 2019.
The Lawyer to the three convicted persons Abimbola Akeredolu who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said she will appeal the ruling of the court.
Our correspondent reports that the court also discharged and acquitted six other accused persons for lack of evidence.
