After the attack on the Hai Lu Feng II on May 15, 2020, off the coast of Ivory Coast, the 10 pirates of Nigerian nationality were sentenced by the Federal High Court in Lagos to 12 years in prison.

Although they pleaded not guilty, the 10 pirates who had attempted to hijack a Chinese fishing boat, in addition to the 12 years in prison, were fined 250,000 naira. After a distress call from the fishing vessel, which was probably intended to act as a mother ship for piracy operations far from theAfter a distress call from the fishing vessel, which was probably intended to act as a mother ship for piracy operations far from the bases in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian navy quickly intervened, freeing the 18 crew members and capturing the ten pirates. In his opening statement, the prosecutor said the verdict would send "a strong warning to other criminals that Nigeria has zero tolerance for maritime criminals. The defense has said it will appeal. This was the second trial on piracy charges in Nigeria under a new 2019 anti-piracy law.