Expert Raises Alarm Over Increasing Number Of Detained Seafarers In Prisons

A consultant to the International Labour Organization (ILO) , Captain Thomas Kemewerigha has raised the alarm over high number of seafarers’ awaiting trial in Ikoyi and Yenegoa prisons , over frequent arrest of vessels and crew on the nation’s territorial waters.

 

Kemewerigha, a former National President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association in a chat faulted the modus operandi of both the Nigerian Navy and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the arrest of seafarers without invitation of the ship owners.

According to him, the ship owners must be questionable and apprehended about the illegal consignment onboard their vessels instead of detaining innocent seafarers’ that lack knowledge about the content or arrangement of the product laden on board the ship before voyage.

“Go to all the prisons , Yenegoa in Bayelsa , Ikoyi and Kirikiri in Lagos are filled up with seafarers’ over the issue of discussion and nobody is talking about them rather the agencies are busy arresting them.

 

“We are not against the arrest of illegal activities on our territorial waters but we are against the inhuman treatment meted against the seafarers’ who are always the end users of such crimes.

“The crew aboard the vessel are bread winners of their respective families just as the master is engaged to take directive from the ship owners or charterer on how to navigate the vessel from point A to B.”

Speaking further , he called on the relevant authorities to review the mode of arrest on seafarers’ adding that ship owners are always excluded from matters relating to oil theft and sundry maritime crime.

“Without seafarers’the global economy will shrink and the multiplier effects has to do with their immediate families.

“What we are saying is that the Nigerian government should get their act right. We are not against navy arrest of ships but the core owners should be arrested because they know more about the contents onboard,”he argued.

 

 

Kemewerigha suggested to the security agencies to investigate the shipping companies , owners or charterer of vessels when issues of such illegalities arise.

 

“When a vessel is apprehended for one illegality or the other; the entire crew are suspects but subject to clarification by the master on behalf of the crew should lead to the arrest of the owners or charterer who should come over the station for questioning.

“The idea whereby crew members are languishing in prison and awaiting trials while the ship owners are somewhere drinking champaign is not palatable at all.

“My concern is purely based on the detaining of the entire crew on board the vessel for an illegality perpetrated by the ship owners is questionable.

“The Illegality does not affect in anyway the master and the crew of the vessel because there is employment definition for them by the owner.

“It is the owners or charterer of the vessel that dictates where and when to pick the vessel from point A to point B and that is the responsibilities of the master.

He argued that the detention of crew on awaiting trial over issues bothering maritime related crimes sends negative signals to the world because of the none appearance of the ship owners.

Recall that the senate committee on Anti Corruption and Financial Crimes has expressed the desire of the Upper Legislative assembly to see a reformed and rebranded Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes in the country.

Senator Suleiman Kwari, last Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at the commencement of the 9th Senate Legislative Anti Corruption Strategy Implementation Session at the National Assembly Complex, advised that “Ninety per cent of investigation should be done before arrest is effected” adding that “media hype must stop. If you want to be effective forget the media, do the work and let your work speak for you.”

He disclosed that the 9th Senate was determined to see that there was a constant flow of information and engagement between the Senate and the EFCC.

 

By Roland Ekama