Captain Dada Labinjo has been in detention for over a year for allegations right activists say are unfounded. Even when the Federal High ordered his release and reinstatement to his position, the detained Naval officer is yet to be charged to court.
At a conference in Lagos, the Executive Director, Centre Against Impunity Comrade Shina Loremikan said it was imperative to bring to the public the unwarranted mental and physical agony Labinjo and his family are undergoing.
He said Capt. Labinjo, his wife, Lt. Commander Sherrifat Lambert and 20 of his crew were arrested and detained on August 25, 2018.
He said efforts to ensure fairness for him and others proved abortive, adding it was only when the matter was brought to public notice in July 27 that Labinjo’s wife and 13 crew members arrested with him were release to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for trail.
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According to Loremikan, while some of the former detainees were hurriedly charged to court by the Navy and asked EFCC to take charge of other things, the court kept seeking adjournment to study the case file.
He noted that every sitting in court is conducted by a new counsel, adding that torture continues to be used as the means of investigation. “Sometimes the detainees are held in underground cells, blindfolding them without access to their families, lawyers and doctors of their choice.
The rights activist said facts available to them showed that there was outright violation of section 34, 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended. He explained that the Nigerian Navy has refused to release Captain Labinjo and the remaining crew members despite court ordered them to do so.
Speaking on the allegation the Navy held Labinjo and others for he said:
“At different times, we made efforts to individuals as an organization to demand for their offence. Officially, no Navy personnel has communicated to us about what they have done. Officially, there is no paper, no record on the offence committed. But unofficially, they told us three versions, the first version is that Capt. Labinjo is too stubborn.
“They said after the Navy has disengaged him, he still want to stay in service. The second version is that they accused him of involving in piracy. That he took his vehicle to the high seas and was caught nvolved in piracy activities. The third version, they said he does not have license to operate the vehicle he was arrested with at the seas.”
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