Section 420: Service of documents

(1)
Where, for the purposes of this Act, a document is to be served on any person, that document may be served-
(a)
in any case, by delivering a copy of the document personally to the person to be served, or by leaving the same at his last place of abode;
(b)
if the document is to be served on the master of a ship, where there is one, or on a person belonging to a ship, by leaving the document for him on board the ship with the person who is or appears to be, in command or charge of the ship;
(c)
if the document is to be served on the master of a ship, where there is no master, and the ship is within Nigeria, on the managing owner, of the ship, and if there is no managing owner, on an agent of the owner residing in Nigeria or where the agent is not known or can not be found, by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place in the ship.
(2)
Any person who obstructs the service on the master of a ship of any document under the provisions of this Act relating to the detention of ships as unseaworthy, commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than Fifty thousand Naira and, if the owner or master of the ship is party or privy to the obstruction, he commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine not less than one hundred thousand Naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.