Criminal Court “D” Resident Judge Mameita Jabateh-Sirleaf has issued a ruling in Liberia’s first-ever piracy case, setting a precedent in the country’s legal and maritime enforcement efforts.
The case involved two Nigerian nationals, Michael Oputa and Samuel Nwankwo, accused of hijacking a Chinese fishing vessel,
The Shanghai-2, within Liberia’s territorial waters in the Gulf of Guinea. The incident drew widespread attention, both locally and internationally.
According to official court documents, the pair were apprehended in July 2023 by the Liberia Coast Guard after a fierce exchange of gunfire at sea.
The suspects were subdued, taken into custody, and later investigated by the Liberia National Police before being formally indicted and forwarded to Criminal Court “D” for trial.
Plea Deal and Legal Proceedings
During the trial, defense attorney Cllr. Bestman D. Juah filed a plea bargaining request on behalf of Michael Oputa.
The motion was not contested by prosecuting attorney Anthony Jonah A. Kerkular and was subsequently approved by the court under the amended Section 16.44 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law.
The court found that Oputa had possessed the firearm used during the armed takeover of The Shanghai-2, which served as key evidence in securing his conviction.
Sentencing and Acquittal
In line with the plea agreement, Judge Jabateh-Sirleaf sentenced Oputa to five years in prison, with his sentence retroactively applied from the date of his initial detention at the Monrovia Central Prison.
In a notable development, the court acquitted co-defendant Samuel Nwankwo, citing a lack of evidence that he had knowledge of or intent to participate in the crime.
The judge ruled that Nwankwo had been unknowingly drawn into the operation by Oputa and therefore could not be held criminally responsible under Liberian law.
Maritime Jurisdiction and Broader Implications
The hijacked vessel, which was transporting cargo through the Gulf of Guinea, had issued a distress call and was intercepted by international maritime forces.
The suspects were then turned over to Liberian authorities under international maritime cooperation protocols.
Because the vessel was registered under the Liberian flag, Liberia held full legal jurisdiction under international maritime law.
Although Liberia maintains one of the largest open ship registries in the world, piracy cases prosecuted domestically have been rare.
Legal experts view this ruling as a significant step in demonstrating Liberia’s willingness to enforce maritime laws and safeguard the integrity of its shipping registry.
Strengthening Maritime Security
The ruling coincides with Liberia’s intensified efforts to combat piracy and other maritime crimes.
In June 2023, the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) issued a Marine Security Advisory warning vessels of increasing risks such as piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea.
In September 2023, Liberia officially validated its first National Maritime Security Strategy.
Developed in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the EU-funded SWAIMS project, the strategy aims to enhance interagency coordination, rapid response capabilities, and legal enforcement mechanisms.
In June 2025, Liberia further demonstrated its commitment by signing the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on the Suppression of Piracy, aligning itself with other coastal states to strengthen international cooperation in protecting maritime trade and seafarers.
LiMA has since called for deeper regional collaboration among West African nations, emphasizing the importance of shared intelligence, joint enforcement, and legal reforms to effectively tackle maritime crime.
A Legal and Maritime Turning Point
As Michael Oputa begins his prison sentence and Samuel Nwankwo returns to freedom, this piracy case is being closely monitored by the international maritime community.
Criminal Court “D”, which has jurisdiction over major crimes including armed robbery and hijacking, is now positioning itself as a critical institution in Liberia’s response to transnational threats.
This historic case underscores the complex nature of maritime crime in West Africa and highlights Liberia’s evolving role as a proactive and responsible maritime state in the global fight against piracy.
