LAGOS – The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Nigeria has urged the National Assembly to organise a public hearing on Piracy preparatory to passing the Armed Robbery at Sea Bill into law.
The President of WISTA, Nigeria, Mrs Jean Chiazor-Anishere, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
“Unfortunately, we do not really have in our rules a law against armed robbery at sea or piracy, but interestingly, I know that NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) had given some form of contract to the firm of Mike Igbokwe, SAN and Co. to come up with a Bill on Piracy Act.
“And I also know as a fact that that assignment has been concluded.
“So it’s for the National Assembly to consider it; probably call for public hearing and then pass that Bill into law.
“What we have is a Criminal Law – Criminal Act in the Southern part of Nigeria, Criminal Code in the Northern part of Nigeria.
“And the provisions of the Criminal Act or Criminal Code only provides for armed robbery not at sea, but armed robbery per say; theft and not piracy.
“So that where the act is committed on land, the Criminal Code or Act will have sufficient punitive measures that will be attached to the offender.
“Where the Armed Robbery Act is an act committed at sea, there is no such provision as to what the penalty or the punishment will be.
“So that is why it is important that this Act on Piracy and Armed Robbery which was put together by the firm of Mike Igbokwe and Co. be looked into and then let the National Assembly call for a public hearing of that if they have not done that.
“And I am not sure they have done that and be passed into law.
“Because in that proposition, I believe they have made adequate provisions for the penalty, adequate penalty for piracy and armed robbery at sea.“
The maritime lawyer said that there was no guarantee the barbed wire mounted on vessels could offer maximum protection against piracy.
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According to her, sea pirates have enough arms and tools that will enable them to dislodge any form of shield mounted on vessels.
She called for the deployment of private security guards to provide security on board vessels. (NAN)
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