EFCC Produces Capt. Dada Labinjo In Court After 15 Months In Custody

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday
morning produced a retired Naval Officer, Captain Dada Labinjo, who
had been in detention without trial for one year and three
months.

Labinjo has been in the custody of the Nigerian Navy since
September, 2018.

The arraignment of the senior Naval officer on a two-count
charge is going on before Justice Muslim Hassan in the Federal High
Court, Lagos.

Justice Hassan had on October 30 directed the EFCC to find out
the whereabouts of a retired Naval Officer, Captain Dada Labinjo,
and produce him before the court on December 2.

The court gave the directives during arraignment of 12 persons,
a vessel and two limited liability companies on alleged illegal
dealings on petroleum products.

Those docked before the court on the allegations are: MT
Adeline, Mrs Bola Labinjo, Jonathan Abaka (alias Joy Boy), Charles
Ikemefuna, Benjamin Gold Gageche, Hamzat Yakubu, Emmanuel Oputa and
Peter Dung Pule.

Others include: Innocent Akpan, Kehinde Labinjo, Pius Matthew
Paul, Onoja Emmanuel, Adeleke Hamed, Global Shipping Activities
Bureau Limited and Labland and Sea Services Limited.

The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC on a two-count charge
of conspiracy to commit felony, to wit illegal dealings in
petroleum products.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the defendants, sometimes
in 2018 within the Nigerian Maritime Domain and within the court’s
jurisdiction, allegedly conspired with Segun Sahiyu, Ogunmoyero
Oluwaseun Eric, Akpan Friday Itoro, Mr Richard, Captain Felix,
Captain Jude, Engineer Teddy, Mr. Michael, MT Juko, Captain Dada
Olaniyi Olabinjo, all said to be at large, to commit the alleged
illegal act.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Mrs Oluwakemi
Yemi-Makinde, are contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a)
& (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap. M17, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria (Revised edition) 2004.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court
to remand them in prison custody, while also asking for a date of
trial.

However, counsel to Mrs Labinjo, Abaka, Benjamin and Yakubu, Mr
Jerry Omoregie, Kolawole Salami, Odo RU and A Aruwayo told the
court that their clients have been admited to bail by Justice Chuka
Obiozor, when they were arraigned on the same allegations, during
the court’s long vacation in August, which they have all
perfected.