CABOTAGE ACT: Court Fines Two  Ships N20m For Illegal Dealing In Petroleum Products

A Federal High Court in Delta State has convicted two vessels in contravention of the Cabotage act and illegal dealings of petroleum products

Presiding Judge, Justice Okon Abang of the competent court  sentenced the two Motor Vessels,  MV NIPAL and MV SD WATERMAN to a fine of N10 million each.

According to a statement by the Commission, the two motor vessels were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  on one count charge each for dealing in petroleum products without lawful registration and appropriate license.

The charge against MV. SD WATERMAN reads. “That you MV. SD WATERMAN on or about 19th May 2019 at Escravos,  Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without due registration and licence from appropriate authority engaged in Cabotage in the Nigeria territorial waters and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (1)&(2)of the Coaster and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act,  2003 and punishable under Section 35(1) (c) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge in writing based on the plea bargain agreement by the parties

In view of their pleas, Justice Okon Abang convicted and sentenced the two vessels to a fine of N10,000, 000 (Ten Million Naira) each.