FG Returns Impounded MT San Padre Pio to Switzerland

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian authorities have returned a Swiss vessel, MT San Padre Pio, which was impounded within the nation’s waterways in 2018 to the Government of Switzerland.

This was disclosed on Saturday during the handing over of the vessel to the Swiss government.

The transfer was done by Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Abdullahi Ahmed, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Ojo, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.

Mr Malami, represented the Deputy Director of International and Comparative Law, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Francis Ojo, said the return of the event will strengthen the ties between Nigeria and Switzerland.

According to him, the ship was captured on the Nigerian waterways when it was found without relevant permits.

“This process started in January 2018 when MT San Padre Pio was arrested.

“While the Ministry of Justice was deliberating how to release the vessel unconditionally due to the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Switzerland, the Swiss government went to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Germany, on the matter of which the Tribunal ordered Switzerland to enter a bail bond of $14 million in favour of Nigeria for the crew members to be released in line with Nigerian laws,” he said.

“During this time, the case was also going on at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

“During this process, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and that of Switzerland met and agreed that the case should be resolved diplomatically due to the bilateral relationship between both countries.

“Negotiations went ahead and on May 20, 2021, an MoU was signed between the federal government and Swiss government to release MT San Padre Pio unconditionally and allow it to depart Nigeria without hindrance and that the case at the International Tribunal should be withdrawn and the one in the Nigerian court should be closed.

“All these have been achieved and that is why we are here to officially release the vessel to the Swiss government,” Mr Malami added.