[PHOTO] Navy abandons seaman Nyeke Lucky in prison after completing term

A seaman, Nyeke Lucky, is presently languishing in a prison of the Nigerian Navy, Quorra, in the Apapa area of Lagos State, three months after his term has ended.

PUNCH Metro learnt that 32-year-old Lucky, who was attached to the Naval Special Boat Services Camp, Ojo, had been locked up at the NNS Quorra detention quarters since March 31, 2015...


Our correspondent gathered that Lucky was tried by court-martial of the NNS in Apapa for alleged possession of ammunition, and sentenced to six months in detention, which started in March.

It was learnt that the naval seaman, who hails from Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, had been found with the ammunition in his hostel in SBS, Ojo.

Our correspondent gathered that the term was to end on September 30, 2015, but he had yet to be freed.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the seaman’s legal counsel, Mr. Idowu Agboola, said he had written to the naval authorities over the illegal detention of his client after finishing his jail term, but no response had been got from them.

He said, “Lucky was court-martialled for being in possession of firearms and he was sentenced to a six-month term in March 2015. But as we speak, he is still in detention. He is attached to the Special Boat Services Camp, Ojo, Lagos.

“He was brought before the court on two counts. One was stealing and the other was for being in possession of firearms. The naval authorities could not prove the case against him, because under Section 237 of the Armed Forces Act, you cannot charge a military man for possession of arms.

“The judgment passed on Lucky was awaiting the confirmation of the Chief of Naval Staff before he would serve the term, but he had served it already. I have also written the naval authorities and sued them for extending his jail term.

“A reply came from Abuja that Nyeke’s letter is on the table of the Chief of Naval Staff, but it has yet to be signed. I sued the naval authorities for a breach of his fundamental human rights. The case will be coming up in February 2016, if he is not released.”

Lucky’s wife, Sonia, told PUNCH Metro that she was last allowed to see Lucky in June 2015, adding that she was sad that her husband would do the New Year in detention, despite completing his term.

She said, “I was not allowed to see him since June 2015. He has spent nine months now in that guard room, and the authorities are doing nothing.

“There is no proper care and there are mosquitoes all over the cell where he is. I was not even happy celebrating the Christmas. I am not happy that he will do the New Year in detention. But what will I do? I am hoping he will just be released soon.

The Director, Naval Information, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, said he would verify Lucky’s situation with the Director, Legal Services.

He said, “I need to get in touch with the Director, Legal Services, to get full facts of the matter.

“Whenever any naval man is court-martialled, the flag officer of the command would normally forward a report to the headquarters. The headquarters will subject it to a legal review, and the outcome of the review will inform the decision of the authorities.”