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Indian crew members returned home

The 16 Indian crew members of the 'Heroic Idun', ex 'Hunter Idun', who had been detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for nine months, have finally returned home on June 10. The sailors, who had faced accusations of oil theft by Nigerian authorities, arrived at Kochi Airport in Kerala after undergoing trials and reaching a settlement. The crew members of the vessel said that the Government of India made a tremendous effort in this case, and they did a great job of getting all the sailors released. The vessel had a total of 26 crew members out of which 16 were Indians who were first detained in Equatorial Guinea in August 2022 and later moved to Nigeria in November 2022.

Tanker released and underway again

The 'Heroic Idun', which was detained off Annobon, Equatorial Guinea, on Aug 12, 2022, has been released from detention on May 28. The vessel sailed from the Bonny anchorage shortly after midnight on the same day, en route to Cape Town with an ETA as of June 6.

Release of 'Heroic Idun' subject to fulfilment of the plea bargain agreement

The Nigerian Navy (NN) on May 4 said that the release of the 'Heroic Idun', arrested and prosecuted for criminal offences, would be subject to fulfilment of the plea bargain agreement with the Federal Government. The Naval Headquarters had on Aug. 19, 2022, announced the arrest of the vessel by the Equatorial Guinean Navy. The ship had entered the Nigerian Maritime Environment (NME) on Aug. 7 and headed for Akpo Field without any authorisation or clearance. The Captain, having duly responded to Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) GONGOLA, later failed to comply with the Navy ship’s order to proceed to Bonny Anchorage to await her NNPCL papers but rather altered her course southward and proceeded at top speed towards the Nigeria/Sao Tome Joint Development Zone. The tanker was tracked by the Nigerian Navy’s state of the art Maritime Domain Awareness system and was eventually arrested by the Equatorial Guinean authorities based on a formal request by the Nigerian Navy under the Yaoundé Code of Conduct. The vessel was transferred back to Nigeria on Nov. 12. The NN approached the Attorney General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice and the ship and 26 crew members were charged to court at a Federal High Court Port Harcourt on Jan. 10. They pleaded guilty and elected voluntarily to enter into a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as make restitution to the government. The owners of the vessel made the plea agreement after due consultations in line with Section 270 (5) (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Upon the acceptance of the plea bargain, both parties agreed to the fulfilment of the conditions before any release will be made. After the conviction and sentencing by the court in line with the agreed terms, the 'Heroic Idun' owners are to pay fines to the Federal Government and make an apology to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in print and electronic media as well as Llyod’s list. The Federal Government agreed not to further criminally prosecute and/or investigate the vessel, her owners, charterers or her crew in the matter of her crime against the state. The release of the 'Heroic Idun' is subject to the fulfilment of all aforementioned conditions of the plea bargain to the satisfaction of the Federal High Court.