Court remands alleged Nigerian pirates

The Adjabeng District Magistrate Court in Accra has adjourned to February 11, the case involving the alleged eight Nigerian pirates.

The accused persons are Molih Williams, Molih Klinsman, Peggy Aki, Ebiyaibo Amos, David Jacobs, Apetimiyi Oyinie, Pinano Saniyo and Picolo John, all unemployed.

The accused persons, whose plea were not taken were charged for conspiracy to commit crime and piracy.

The case was adjourned to enable the state conduct investigations into the matter with the support of the accused persons.

Mr Uche Nwosu, the counsel for the accused persons urged the prosecution to conclude their investigations on time for the trial to commence.

He prayed the court to disregard the parts of the facts that describe the accused persons as pirates.

He also plea with the court to order the prosecution to make the facts sheet accessible to him.

Chief Inspector Iddrisu Fuseini, told the court presided over by Ms Efua Sackey that the complainant in the case is the Chief Executive Officer of Maxweir limited, the company operating MT Mariam.

He said on January 17, the vessel MT Mariam loaded with 1,500 metric tons of low petroleum fuel oil worth 1.5 million dollars was travelling from Lagos, Nigeria to Lome, Togo when the accused persons launched their attacked.

The prosecution said the accused persons were holding three AK 47, one pump action and a K2 rifle to attack nine crew members on board.

Chief Inspector Fuseini said in the process, they forcibly stole the cargo unto another vessel and sped off.

He said stealing the oil took five hours and all this while the crew members were taken hostage and subjected to various degrees of inhuman treatment.

“The inhuman treatment includes assault with butts of the weapon, restricting their movement, preventing them from communicating to themselves,” he added.

He said after stealing the cargo, two of the alleged pirates joined the vessel with oil and sped off and instructed the rest to keep watch of the crew till they return to pick them.

The prosecution said it was whilst waiting that, the personnel of the Ghana Navy came to their rescue after a distress call had been made and the accused persons arrested.

The weapons were seized and retained for evidential purposes.