Twenty-Three crew members of a ship MT Kali who were arrested for oil bunkering have been arraigned by the Federal government on a 9-count economic sabotage charge at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
MT Kali (IMO: 8782800) and the 23-member crew were arrested on January 11, 2024 at the Chevron Wellhead Offshore Ekeni and Ezeotu communities in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/18/2024 and presided by Justice Emeka Nwite, the crew and their ship willfully tampered with Chevron Wellhead for the transportation of crude oil within Nigeria Exclusive Economic zone without lawful authority, an offence punishable under Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004. The charge was signed by Abubakar Mohammed Babadoko, a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice on behalf of the AGF.
They were also said to have on the same day, conspired among themselves and siphoned about 119,000 litres of crude oil without appropriate license contrary to Section 1(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under Section 7(17) of the same Act.
The Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, further accused the defendants of turning off the Automatic Identification System in order to avoid detection by the Nigerian Navy, a maritime offence, contrary to Section 10 of the Suppression of Privacy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.
A private company, SASNA Global Resources, Ayokunle Eniola and David Adeboye were in count 8, accused of unlawfully engaging in petroleum, and without license or permit, stored 119,000 litres of crude oil in MT Kali Cargo Tanks contrary to Section 228(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and punishable under Section 297 of the same Act.
The suspects were also accused of unlawfully removing, destroying and damaging a facility used for petroleum operations to siphon 119,000 litres of crude oil into MT Kali cargo tanks contrary to Section 228(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and punishable under Section 297 of the same Act.
The MT Kali Vessel was separately charged with concealment of information that could have led to the arrest of its crew contrary to Section 16(5) of the Suppression of Privacy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019.
However, all the accused persons who were brought to court by fully armed soldiers pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their bail application.
Apart from the MT Kali vessel and SASNA Global Resources, other defendants in the charges are Ayokunle Eniola, David Adeboye, Eze Chinedu Promise, Albert Ifeoluwa, Sienna Ohwobeuvghe, Sam Effiong Wisdom, Asuma Chidozie, Ita Etim Eyoh and Joseph Omale Victor.
Others are Abel Ken Diebou, Victor Okoro, Ejiro Melford, Ishola Godwin Segun, Gabriel Okain, Felix Maku, Perenanabofa Abraham, Tomone Ikiokenneghen, Oruebu Amas, Richard Debor, Brakemi Felix Idolo, Famous Abraham, Samuel Ebiyekekeon and Akpodowei Ebgeriebelewe.
