A United States-based shipping company, NUJENIX Corporation, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged unlawful seizure, detention, and destruction of its vessel, MT Thor, in Nigeria.
In the petition, the company accused some personnel of the Nigerian Army of being involved in what it described as criminal acts linked to the disappearance and vandalism of the motor tanker. The company called on the IGP to urgently intervene to ensure that justice is served and to protect the lives and property of its executives.
The petition was signed by the company’s lawyers, S.D. Omede and P.O. Onucheyo, and sent to the police headquarters in Abuja. It listed several individuals and companies for investigation, accusing them of criminal conspiracy, stealing, vandalism, and illegal conversion of the vessel.
NUJENIX Corporation said it is acting on behalf of its owner and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Eial Golan Yachiel, an Israeli-American citizen who lives in the United States. According to the company, MT Thor is registered in Florida and was legally owned by NUJENIX Corporation.
The company explained that the vessel was handed over to Sub-Sea 9 Ocean Services Ltd under a bareboat charter agreement dated January 1, 2021. Under this type of agreement, the charterer takes full control and responsibility for the vessel, including its operation and maintenance, while making regular payments to the owner.
NUJENIX Corporation said the agreement required the charterer, allegedly operated by a man identified as John George Igor, to pay $912,500 every six months. However, the company claimed that the agreement was breached shortly after it began.
“He failed to do so and only paid the sum of $25,000,” the petition stated.
The company alleged that after taking possession of MT Thor, Igor stopped responding to calls and messages and later issued threats to those seeking information about the vessel.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, one of the company’s lawyers, Barrister Peter Onucheyo, said the matter had gone beyond a civil business dispute. According to him, the situation escalated into a serious security and criminal issue involving threats, unlawful detention, and intimidation.
“This is not about business again. This is about threats, detention, and force,” Onucheyo said.
He alleged that Nigerian Army personnel were used to support one of the main suspects and to frustrate police investigations. According to him, the soldiers allegedly intimidated those connected to the case and interfered with attempts by the police to carry out arrests.
Onucheyo claimed that when the police attempted to arrest some of the suspects after court processes were initiated, they were stopped by armed personnel.
“When the police went to effect the arrest, they were stopped,” he said.
One of the most serious claims in the petition is the alleged involvement of soldiers in guarding and hiding the vessel. According to the lawyers, MT Thor was taken to Koko in Warri, Delta State, where it was allegedly kept under armed guard.
The company claimed that soldiers were deployed to protect the vessel while it was being dismantled. Onucheyo alleged that the tanker was stripped of key parts and left in a severely damaged condition.
“They went and hid the vessel there. When you see how it is now, it’s not as tacky as it used to be; it’s actually destroyed,” he said.
The petition further claimed that vital navigational and bunker equipment were removed from the vessel, making it unfit for operation.
According to NUJENIX Corporation, MT Thor has now been damaged beyond repair and is no longer seaworthy. The company said the alleged actions of the suspects have rendered the vessel useless and caused significant financial loss.
The lawyers said photographs were attached to the petition, showing the condition of the tanker when it was delivered in January 2021 and its present state. The images reportedly show extensive damage and missing equipment.
“Right now, the vessel is damaged beyond repair and is no longer seaworthy due to the criminal activities of the suspects,” the petition stated.
Citing the alleged involvement of armed personnel and threats to life, NUJENIX Corporation appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police for urgent intervention.
“We humbly urge and request that the Inspector-General of Police use your good office and intervene so that justice will be served,” the petition read.
The company said the situation requires immediate attention to prevent further damage and to protect its executives, staff, and legal representatives.
The case raises broader concerns about the safety of foreign investments in Nigeria’s maritime and oil transport sectors. Nigeria relies heavily on shipping and marine transport for its oil and gas industry, and disputes involving vessels can have serious economic and legal implications.
In recent years, there have been repeated calls for better coordination between security agencies and stronger enforcement of the rule of law, especially in commercial disputes. Legal experts often warn that the involvement of armed personnel in civil matters can damage public trust and discourage investment.
Bareboat charter disputes are usually treated as civil cases and resolved through the courts. However, the involvement of threats, alleged vandalism, and armed intervention, as claimed in this case, changes the nature of the matter and raises serious criminal concerns.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Army had not issued official responses to the allegations. There has also been no public comment from the individuals and companies named in the petition.
For NUJENIX Corporation, the petition represents a last effort to recover its vessel or seek justice for what it described as unlawful acts.