Arrested Monjasa Tanker "Lacked Documentation, License, or Permit"

The tanker crew was said to have been preparing to transfer petroleum products from MT Anuket Emerald

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that 14 foreigners arrested by the Nigerian Navy on March 8 had entered Nigeria in a petroleum product-laden vessel without any proper documentation, license, or permit, local media reports.

EFCC investigator Abdullahi Allaya also testified that the foreigners, including three Russians, a Japanese, and seven Britons, were waiting for instructions from their employer to transfer the products to a vessel called MV Norman Pacific in Nigeria's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The EFCC says the accused stored 1,500 metric tonnes of automated gas oil inside the MT Anuket Emerald's cargo tank on February 27 as well as 3,035 MT of low pour fuel oil in other tanks, thus contravening the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Petroleum Act, Laws of Federation.

"There was no representative of government such as Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency or Navy to authorize the transaction," Allaya testified.

"There was no permit or approval from any of the agencies since they were doing coastal business. They imported petroleum products into Nigeria's Exclusive Economic Zone without any documentation."

In addition to the accused, all of whom pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned on June 10, also charged are MT Anuket Emerald, Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd., the latter of whose involvement Ship & Bunker understands is limited to their name appearing on the bill of loading, something which is standard practice as the company who sold the original cargo to Monjasa.

EFCC's investigations have shown that Combe Shipping Limited is the registered owner of MT Anuket Emerald, the beneficial owner is Alliance Tankers Incorporated, and the vessel was chartered by Monjasa.