FG releases prosecuted 3m litres crude vessel to owners after out-of-court settlement

Federal Government has released a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Motor Tanker known as Heroic Idun after its successful prosecution and meeting conditions of a plea bargain.

Recall that the large vessel and her 26 crew onboard were intercepted in August 2022 for an attempt to load crude oil without appropriate approvals from NNPCL and the necessary security clearance

The vessel and its 26 crew were subsequently prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) at the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on 10 January 2023.

Consequent upon that, both the vessel and the crew pleaded guilty and elected voluntarily to enter into a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as make restitution to the Government.

In his speech, Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Navy Captain Mohammed Adamu, during a brief handover ceremony at the Atlantic ocean where the vessel decked for more than nine months, explained that the plea bargain was in the interest of justice, the public and for public policy interest in line with Section 270 (5) (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

“It may be recalled the public and indeed the maritime world was notified of the grave infractions of Motor Tanker HEROIC IDUN and her prosecution by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on 10 January 2023.

“It was equally disclosed that the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MT HEROIC IDUN, and her 26 foreign crew pleaded guilty and elected voluntarily to enter into a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as make restitution to the Federal Government.

“The plea bargain was in the interest of justice, the public, and for public policy interest in line with Section 270 (5) (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Accordingly, after the conviction of MT HEROIC IDUN and sentencing by the Court, in line with the agreed terms, the MT HEROIC IDUN and its owners were to pay conviction fines and restitution to the FGN and make an apology to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in print and electronic media as well as Llyod’s List.

“On its part, the Federal Government agreed not to further criminally prosecute and/or investigate the vessel, her owners, charterers, or her crew in the matter of her crime against the State.

“All these being the conditions of the plea bargain without which the VLCC and its crew would not be released.”

Adamu further stated that the owners of the vessel apologized to the FGN on the LLOYDS List on 12 May 2023 and the same apology was published in the Punch Newspaper
(Page 27) of 18 May 2023.

He noted that the vessel regretted the false pirate attack alarm it raised on 7 August 2022 which was in clear defiance of the State being that she disobeyed the orders of Nigerian Navy Ship Gongola after an attempt to load crude oil without appropriate approvals from Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPC) and the necessary security clearance.

He said the subsequent transfer of the ship from Equatorial Guinea after she had escaped Nigerian waters and her prosecution under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019 further demonstrates the Nigerian Navys practical commitment to ensures that only valid and authorized Vessels are allowed to carry out export of crude oil or gas at the various oil terminals adding that it is to enhance energy security governance in the country for improved national prosperity as directed by the FGN.

“Pertinently, MT HEROIC IDUN having fulfilled all the aforementioned conditions of the plea bargain to the satisfaction of the Federal High Court has been released today Saturday 27 May 2023 to its owners, Idun Maritime Limited with the consent of the court and approval of the FGN.”

However, the Navy Captain enjoined maritime stakeholders, key players, and seafarers operating within Nigerian waters to carefully conduct their operations and maritime-related activities within extant regulations and with due observance of the law, stressing that the Nigerian Navy will not fail to bring to book those whose operation infringe on the provisions of the SPOMO Act and all maritime laws and conventions acceded to by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the captain of MT Heroic Idun, Tanuj Mehta, acknowledged that the plea bargain reached is a huge relief for the 26-man crew after being in detention for more than 9 months.

“We were treated extremely professionally by the Nigerian Navy and we are thankful to the Nigerian Government for handling us well.

“Yes, we are aware of the arrangement between the Navy and the owners and plea bargain agreement and we are more than happy to go back home to our families.”