Falana: Navy has transferred 67 detainees to EFCC

The Nigerian navy has transferred the case files of 67 Nigerians in its custody to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for possible release or arraignment in court.

In a statement on Friday, Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, said this followed a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 67 detainees have been held by the navy since last year when they were arrested.

Falana said following a petition to Buhari, the president directed the security agency to either release the detainees or arraign them in court.

“Consequently the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have transferred the forwarded the case files of the detainees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” he said.

“We have confirmed that officials of the EFCC visited the detainees in the detention facilities in Lagos last week. We have been assured by the management of the EFCC that the detainees are currently being profiled with a view to having them released or arraigned in court.”

…EXCEPT FOR ONE DETAINEE

The senior lawyer, expressed regrets that the navy has refused to release the case file of one other detainee identified as Dada Labinjo, a navy captain.

He said the officer had been detained incommunicado in an underground cell at Abuja since September 12, 2019.

“We therefore call on the Chief of Naval Staff to comply with the orders of the federal high court for the immediate release of Navy Captain Dada Labinjo from unlawful custody,” Falana said.