Section 12: Penalty for carrying improper colour

(1) If there are hoisted on board:
(a)
any Nigerian ship any colours or pendant usually worn by ships of the naval forces of Nigeria or the distinctive national colours of any country except the national colours as the ship is, for the time being, allowed to wear in accordance with any written law or any other lawful authority; and
(b)
a foreign ship any colours or pendant other than the proper national colours of the ship or any other pendant or colours which the ship is, under the law of the foreign country in which the ship is registered or belongs and is for the time being allowed to wear, the master of the ship or the owner, if he is on board or every other person hoisting the pendant or colours, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than two hundred thousand Naira.
(2)
Any commissioned officer on full pay in any of the armed forces of Nigeria or any collector of customs, or, in the case of any Nigerian ship, any authorized officer, may board any ship on which any pendant or colours are hoisted contrary to this section and seize and take away the pendant or colours and any such pendant or
colours shall be forfeited.