Soljass Maritime Limited, the owners of the vessel MV Cecilia, have taken legal action against the Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, citing recklessness and bad faith on the part of the maritime force.
The incident in question occurred on August 22 when members of Operation Delta Safe destroyed MV Cecilia, a vessel carrying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel.
Soljass Limited, as the vessel’s owners, initiated legal proceedings against the Nigerian Navy and several other entities. They filed a suit marked FHC/PH/CS/157/2023 in the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. The plaintiffs have named the Nigerian Navy, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence, and Attorney General/Minister of Justice of the Federation as defendants in the case.
Additionally, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, Commander NNS Pathfinder Commodore Desmond Igbo, and the Maritime Component Commander of OPDS, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, are included in the petition.
The legal team representing the plaintiffs, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ifedayo Adedipe, criticized the defendants for failing to serve notice of their preliminary objection to his team, despite having filed it in December.
David Okechukwu, counsel to the Chief of Naval Staff, requested an adjournment of the matter to January 29, 2024, for a hearing. However, Adedipe vehemently opposed the request, warning his opponents against delaying the case and wasting the court’s time.
After hearing both parties, the presiding Judge, Justice Sada’atu Mark, scheduled the case for a hearing on November 29. She also directed all parties to file their motions before the adjourned date.