In February 2024, the MT harbour and spirit vessel was
caught while reportedly stealing crude oil from Sengana oil fields in the
coastal axis of Bayelsa state.
THE COURT CASES
The cases involving the two vessels are currently being
prosecuted by the office of Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police.
In the case of MT harbour and spirit, J.K. Omotosho, the
presiding judge of the federal high court in Abuja, granted the interim
forfeiture of the vessel and its content to the federal government.
As contained in a statement released by Tantita services on
Friday, the judge directed that the federal government should wait for six
weeks for anybody to show why the forfeiture should not be made permanent.
The judge also ordered the sale of the stolen crude oil
contained in the impounded vessel by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company
Limited (NNPCL).
He directed that the proceeds from the sale be deposited by
NNPCL in an interest yielding account to be determined by the chief registrar
of the federal high court.
On the MT Kali vessel, J.O Abdulmalik, judge at the federal
high court in Abuja, also granted the motion for the interim forfeiture of the
vessel to the federal government.
The crew members are expected to be arraigned before the
judge.
