Seventeen of the twenty-seven foreign nationals arrested by the Nigerian Navy in Rivers State, over alleged piracy and oil theft have pleaded not guilty.
The suspects were Today arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
After their plea, the trial judge ordered that the suspects be detained by the Navy to enable the rest crew members also take their plea tomorrow Tuesday 15th November 2022.
The suspects are being charged for entering the country’s territorial water ways an offence Punishable under section 10 of 2019 maritime criminal and piracy laws under section 12 in the amended charge.
Nationality of the suspects includes Poland, India, Sri Lanka and Philippines.