CREW MEMBERS OF FOREIGN SHIP SUSPECTED OF MT HEROIC IDUN SCAM , FACES LAWSUITAS NAVY INSITS SMEAR CAMPAIGN BY SHIP TO EVADE JUSTICE FUTILE
The Federal Government and the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing battle against petroleum theft is unrepentant, especially with the launch of prosecutions of the suspected criminal vessel MT Heroic Idun and its crew, recently delivered by the Equatorial Guinean government. It seems to have greatly deterred economic saboteurs. to the Nigerian authorities.
The deployment was exposed to journalists by his Rear Admiral Seidu Garba, Director of Policy Planning at the Admiralty. In his speech, the Secretary of the Navy said, “This ‘evil’ act by MT HEROIC IDUN aims to tarnish the good image of Nigeria’s maritime domain, which the Nigerian Navy has worked very hard to achieve and maintain. He pointed out.
The meeting was co-addressed by representatives of the Navy, the Department of Defense (MOD), the Department of State and the Department of Justice.
Major General Galba said: It was mentioned that a very large crude carrier (VLCC) entered the Nigerian Marine Environment (NME) on 7 August 2022 and was heading to the Akpo oil field without permits or clearances.
To explain his facts, he said. “For clarity, MT HEROIC IDUN (IMO:
9858058) is 336 meters long, 60 meters beam and has a capacity of 3 million barrels and is registered on Marshall Island. The Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) GONGOLA, a Nigerian Navy (NNS) coastal patrol vessel, investigated the legitimacy of its presence at the Akpo field operated by Total Safe Anchorage. It was only after questioning that the captain of IDUN NNS GONGOLA formally replied, further confirming that his vessel did not have the proper permits to operate on the site. When she made it to Bonnie’s anchorage until she was cleared for loading by NNPC Ltd, she bluntly denied allegations that agents had told her not to take instructions from the Nigerian Navy vessel. She then headed south towards the Sao Tome and Principe waters at full speed to avoid arrest.
Regrettably, “The captain not only refused legal arrest, but also sent false pirate attacks to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center, telling sailors that NNS GONGOLA was a pirate ship. Regarding pirate alerts, the Nigerian Navy also, through international cooperation, alerted the relevant Piracy Reporting Centers on CRESMAO and ECOWAS ZONE F Cotonou, managed by Nigerian Navy officers and provided an alibi.
Recent piracy attacks have lifted the alert, he said: