Monrovia – Legal Court docket “D” Resident Choose Mameita Jabateh-Sirleaf has dominated in Liberia’s first-ever piracy case, marking a historic second within the nation’s maritime and authorized historical past.
By Willie N. Tokpah
The case concerned two Nigerian nationals, Michael Oputa and Titus Ezenan, accused of hijacking a Chinese language fishing vessel, The Shanghai-2, on Liberian territorial waters within the Gulf of Guinea, a criminal offense that drew important nationwide and worldwide consideration.
Based on courtroom paperwork, the accused had been arrested by the Liberia Coast Guard in July 2023 following a heavy alternate of gunfire. Coast Guard forces overpowered the pirates and detained two people.
The suspects had been subsequently investigated by the Liberia Nationwide Police, indicted, and forwarded to Legal Court docket ‘D’ for prosecution.
Through the trial, defence counsel Cllr. Bestman D. Juah entered a plea bargaining request on behalf of Michael Oputa, which was not opposed by prosecuting legal professional Anthony Jonah A. Kerkular.
The settlement was accepted by the courtroom according to Part 16.44 of the Legal Process Legislation as amended.
It was established in courtroom that Michael Oputa had the firearm used throughout the armed theft of The Shanghai-2.
Verdict and Sentencing
In accordance with the plea settlement, Choose Jabateh-Sirleaf sentenced Michael Oputa to 5 years in jail, retroactively counted from the time of his incarceration on the Monrovia Central Jail.
Nevertheless, in a big improvement, the courtroom acquitted the second defendant, Titus Ezenan, ruling that there was inadequate proof to show he had data of, or intent to commit piracy.
Choose Jabateh-Sirleaf famous that Ezenan had been unknowingly utilized by Oputa throughout the execution of the crime, and due to this fact couldn’t be held criminally liable below Liberian regulation.
Worldwide Jurisdiction and Authorized Precedent
The hijacked vessel, which was transporting items via the Gulf of Guinea, was intercepted by worldwide maritime forces after a misery sign was despatched by the ship’s crew.
The suspects had been handed over to Liberian authorities below maritime cooperation protocols, because the vessel was registered below the Liberian flag, granting Liberia full jurisdiction below worldwide maritime regulation.
This case marks a second in Liberia’s maritime enforcement, as precise piracy circumstances prosecuted in native courts have been just about nonexistent regardless of Liberia sustaining one of many largest open ship registries on this planet.
Authorized analysts counsel that the end result of this case units an vital precedent for Liberia’s dedication to imposing maritime regulation and defending the worldwide transport business below its flag.
The ruling comes because the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) intensifies efforts to fight piracy and transnational crimes at sea.
In June 2023, LiMA issued a Marine Safety Advisory, warning ships of threats together with piracy, armed theft, and kidnapping-for-ransom within the Gulf of Guinea.
In September 2023, Liberia validated its first-ever Nationwide Maritime Safety Technique, in partnership with the Worldwide Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the EU-funded SWAIMS challenge, geared toward enhancing coordination, response, and authorized enforcement capability.
Most notably, in June 2025, Liberia turned a signatory to the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on the Suppression of Piracy, becoming a member of different coastal nations in committing to worldwide cooperation to guard seafarers and maritime commerce.
LiMA has additionally referred to as for stronger regional partnerships to handle piracy, urging West African states to align efforts in intelligence sharing, enforcement, and authorized reform.
Whereas Michael Oputa begins his jail sentence and Titus Ezenan walks free, Liberia’s dealing with of this piracy case is being carefully watched by the worldwide maritime group.
Legal Court docket ‘D’, which handles high-profile crimes together with armed theft, hijacking, and now piracy, is more and more on the forefront of Liberia’s justice response to transnational threats.
This landmark case underscores the complexities of maritime crime in West Africa and highlights Liberia’s evolving position as a accountable and proactive maritime nation.
