Group Demands Release Of Navy Captain From One Year Detention

By Augustine Adah

A civil society group, Centre Against Impunity has appealed to the Nigerian Navy to immediately release Captain Dada Labinjo and seven other Nigerians in its custody upon what it claimed as court rulings to effect their human rights.

Labinjo has been in detention for over a year for allegations over yet to be disclosed reasons. The continued detention is despite an order by the Federal High Court for his release and reinstatement to his position, the detained Naval officer is yet to be charged to court.

At a briefing  in Lagos, Comrade Shina Loremikan, the Executive Director, Centre Against  Impunity 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 members of his crew were arrested and detained on August 25, 2018 over an offence which the Naval authorities have yet to disclose to him and his lawyers.

He said efforts to ensure fairness for him and others proved abortive, adding it was only when the matter was brought to public notice on July 27 that Labinjo’s wife and 13 of those arrested with him were released to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ,EFCC, for trial.

 According to Loremikan, while some of the former detainees were hurriedly charged to court, the prosecution has yet to make any progress on account of what he said as the repeated adjournments by the prosecution.

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.

He said, “Sometimes the detainees are held in underground cells, blindfolded without access to their families, lawyers and doctors of their choice.

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