Ninety seafarers languishing in Ikoyi prisons – Union

Tayo Oladipupo    |      

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association yesterday decried 90 of its members in Ikoyi prisons over different cases ranging from improper documentation and illegal bunkering. 

The Union added that ship owners were among the inmates facing different jail terms even as others are on trial.

The National President of seafaring union, Engineer Matthew Alalade in a chat with newsmen on Friday, revealed that apart from seafarers in prison custody in Lagos State, some Nigerian ship owners were equally serving various jail terms for various offences. 

Comrade Alalade alleged that crime committed by the sailors bothered on forged shipping documents even as he added that some of the seafarers might not be privy to the documentations since they are only employed to work on board ships.

He added that some of the imprisoned sailors were on the verge of completing their jail terms while some are on trials.

Narrating how the union got to know of the members in prison, Alalad3 said as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the union, members went on a routine visit to Ikoyi prison to check on seafarers and other inmates, they discovered the outrageous number.

He said the union was not aware of their predicament because they were not registered or financial members of the union.

Alalade therefore called on Nigerian seafarers to adhere to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) as a guide to employment, even as he urged,  “Whenever you want to sign a contract with the ship owners, endeavour to involve NIMASA and representative of the workers which is  the union”. 

Continuing, Alalade re – emphasised proper documentation of contract agreement to put the workers at less risk apart from engaging in illicit activities at sea. 

According to him, the number of seafarers imprisoned in Ikoyi has risen from 45 recorded in previous visit to 90 as at the last time the union visited the facility.

Asked about the offences of the convicted seafarers, Alalade reiterated that their offences ranged from lack of proper permits like bill of lading to load naval clearance or permit to operate, among others. 

He quipped that inability of the vessel to present any of the aforementioned permits falls foul of Government regulations. 

He stated further that some of the seafarers were currently on trial while others have between five to seven months left to complete their terms and that some ship owners too are in prison for similar offences.

 Apart from the Nigerian seafarers and ship owners in prison custody, the Trade Union Congress Auditor, disclosed that two foreign seafarers from Ghana were also in prison.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Prison Services (NPS), Mr. Rotimi Oladokun said,  “I am not  contesting the figure with the President of the union but from our records they are  less than 20 identified as such being described as seafarers. 

“According to our record, less than 20 seafarers are in our custody. We are not the people prosecuting them. Our job is to keep them safe and take them to court when need arise. 

“Are they in our custody? Yes. Do we take care of them? Yes. Do we take them to court? Yes.

“So those who fit in as seafarers in our custody are less than 20 as against 45 to 90 persons claimed.

“They are being tried at the Federal High Court and we are not the prosecuting agency but from record they are less than 20,” he quipped.

Oladokun, who is a Superintendent of Prisons, noted that the issue had to do with law enforcement agencies and not Service. 

He reiterated that the Comptroller General of the service operates an open door policy to clarify issues bothering on its roles and responsibilities.

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