WISTA Calls For Public Hearing On Piracy And Sea Robbery

On its part, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Nigeria), is asking the National Assembly to call for a public hearing on the Bill on Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea
The President of WISTA Nigeria, Nigeria, Mrs Jean Chiazor-Anishere made the plea in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

On its part, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Nigeria), is asking the National Assembly to call for a public hearing on the Bill on Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea
The President of WISTA Nigeria, Nigeria, Mrs Jean Chiazor-Anishere made the plea in an interview with newsmen 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 is 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.
“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 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 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.
“Let the National Assembly call for a public hearing on 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, “ Chiazor-Anishere said.