The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
has declined to stop the prosecution of a Swiss vessel, M/T ‘San Padre Pio’ by
the Federal government.
Switzerland had in May this year dragged Nigeria before the
international tribunal over Nigeria's seizure of the vessel and prosecution of
its crew members.
The federal government through the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently prosecuting the vessel and its crew
members over alleged infractions committed within Nigeria's maritime zone.
Among others, Switzerland prayed ITLOS to order Nigeria to
suspend the criminal prosecution of the vessel’s master and officers, and in
addition refrained from instituting new proceedings against them.
Switzerland further prayed for another order for the release
of the cargo and crew held by Nigerian authorities.
Delivering judgment in the suit on July 6, ITLOS, however
declined to grant the request to suspend the prosecution of the foreign vessel.
Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Justice, Dayo Apata, hailed the verdict on Tuesday at a press conference in
Abuja, noting that the judgment is “a vindication of Nigeria’s right to proceed
with prosecuting these serious violations of Nigerian law, which is a key part
of its efforts to combat maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Apata stated that the vessel and its crew were arrested and
detained having violated Nigeria’s laws by engaging in ship-to-ship transfers
of fuel oil for use in hydrocarbon production activities in Nigerian waters
without the required permits and authorizations.
"On January 23 2019, the Nigerian Navy arrested a
SWISS-flagged Vessel the M/T San Padre Pio whilst undertaking a ship to ship
transfer of fuel oil right inside a platform within the Exclusive Economic Zone
of Nigeria, without the pre-requisite permits or authorization and at odd hours
of the night, contrary to Navy Regulations.
"The vessel, crew members and cargo were subsequently
handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for
Prosecution.
"The EFCC is currently prosecuting the case at the
Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt. The Captain and three other crew members
were subsequently released on bail," Apata hinted.
The Solicitor-General disclosed that apart from refusing the
prayers of Switzerland, the tribunal also "conditioned the release of the
vessel and the criminal defendants, who are Ukrainian nationals, upon
Switzerland’s posting of a bond or other financial security in the amount of
US$14m and on Switzerland’s giving unequivocal assurances, in the form of an
undertaking binding under international law, that it guarantees their return to
Nigeria, should Nigeria prevail in the arbitral proceedings".
"With the conclusion of the provisional measures phase
before ITLOS, the parties will now proceed to adjudicate the underlying dispute
at the Annex Seven (7) Arbitral Tribunal," he added.
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