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Court Declares Merchant Navy Illegal

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14 years ago

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The Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps is an illegal organisation whose activities constitute a threat to national security, an Ikeja High Court has held.

In a judgment on Thursday, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said that the Merchant Navy was not recognised by any law.

Taiwo delivered a judgment in a suit filed by the 96 members of the corps against the Inspector-General of Police and one Mrs Yemisi Kefas of the Office to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The judge dismissed the suit which challenged alleged eviction of the corps from its office by the police and Kefas.

The judge awarded a cost of N20, 000 against the corps.

“This is an illegal organisation being headed by one Commodore Allen Edema, a trained welder and not a navy commodore as he is parading himself,” Taiwo held.

She said that there was ample evidence that the corps had had series of disputes in the past with the Nigerian Navy.

“It was the Nigerian Navy that invaded the premises of the applicants and forcefully evicted them and not Mrs Kefas or the police,’’ Taiwo held.

The judge said that the applicants would not be entitled to the property in dispute, since there was no evidence before the court to show that the corps was a legal entity.

She said that the property belonged to the Federal Government.

The judge further held that there was no evidence that the applicants were tortured or prevented from peacefully assembling as they claimed.

Taiwo said that there was discrepancy in the corps’s name.

She said that the corps sometimes referred to itself as the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps and at other times, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Security and Safety Corps.

“The identity of the applicants has not been confirmed. I find that the application fails and it is hereby dismissed,’’ she held.

Our correspondent reports that the 96 members of the corps, led by Edema, had sought enforcement of their fundamental rights.

In an application dated August  5, 2011, their counsel, Mr Spencer Ohwofa, claimed the applicants were forcefully evicted from their office at No. 6, Force Road, Onikan, Lagos, by policemen acting on the instructions of Kefas.

The applicants had claimed that the property was given to the corps for operations by a former SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

Kefas counsel, Mr K.S. Omosivwe, had submitted that the organisation was illegal and not recognised by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

He said that the corps had no relationship with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency.

Meanwhile, the applicants said that they would appeal against the judgment, which, they claimed was erroneous.

“We are going on appeal soon, because most of the issues we raised in our application were not satisfactorily dealt with,” their counsel, Ohwofa, told newsmen.

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Business

Navy Hands Over Five Suspected Stowaways to NIS

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3 weeks ago

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June 29, 2026

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The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft has handed over five suspected stowaways to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
The suspects were discovered aboard a merchant vessel, MT Chinafrie Happiness, in an attempted illegal voyage out of the country.
This was contained in a statement issued by Sub Lieutenant A.O. Ajayi, Naval Assistant to the Commander, NNS Beecroft.
The statement said the Handover is part of ongoing inter-agency collaboration aimed at strengthening maritime security, curbing illegal migration, and enhancing safety within Nigeria’s maritime environment.
According to the statement, the suspects were discovered on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, concealed inside the rudder compartment of the vessel while it was berthed at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The five suspects were safely evacuated by Naval Personnel’s and taken to NNS Beecroft for preliminary investigation, profiling, and documentation before being transferred to immigration authorities for further action.
The statement gave their identity as Segun Samuel Boyewa (31), Kingsley Chukwu (43), Joseph Judge (33), Moses Aletor (24), and Abdullahi Danlami (31).
Preliminary findings indicated that the individuals allegedly boarded the vessel while it was docked at Tin Can Island Port with the intention of stowing away to India without valid travel documentation or authorisation.
The statement also noted that stowaway attempts pose significant risks to human life and maritime safety, as individuals often hide in hazardous compartments of vessels under extreme conditions that could lead to injury or death.
The Naval statement  warned that illegal boarding of ships remains a serious maritime security challenge and called on parents, guardians, and community leaders to discourage youths from engaging in such dangerous and unlawful acts.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of NNS Beecroft to sustained maritime security operations in line with the mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, aimed at maintaining a professional and effective naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and supporting joint operations for national security.
Chinedu Wosu
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Navy Nabs 13 Black Sand Miners In Bayelsa –Impound Two Boats

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3 weeks ago

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June 29, 2026

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The Nigerian Navy has arrested Thirteen 13 Black Sand miners in Bayelsa state
The Service also impounded two Wooden Boats used for the illegal operations
Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, said this in a statement issued to Newsmen in Abuja.
Folorunsho said with the operation, the Navy had recorded another operational success in its efforts to curb illegal exploitation of natural resources
According to Folorunsho the operation was conducted by Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, following credible intelligence on the movement of boats suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities.
He said  the intelligence revealed  the boats were operating within the coastal communities of Brass Local Government Area.
“Acting on the intelligence, Naval personnel intercepted the boats at Lekeson and Liama communities, where large quantities of suspected illegally mined black sand were discovered onboard.
“A total of 13 crew members were arrested in connection with the activity,” he said.
The Naval Director of information said that the successful operation underscored the Navy’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime environment and preventing the illegal exploitation of natural resources that undermine economic development and environmental sustainability.
“The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in sustaining operations against illegal resource extraction and other maritime crimes, while maintaining security and stability within the nation’s waterways,” he said.
Folorunsho also said that the two wooden boats recovered, the black sand and the 13 suspects have subsequently been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Nembe Division, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
He said this was done in line with the extant procedures and directives of the Bayelsa Government.
The Naval spokesperson reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders and security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime resources.
 Folorunsho assured that it would also ensure that the nation’s waterways remain safe and secure for legitimate economic activities.
CHINEDU WOSU
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Maritime

NCS Holds Free Medical Outreach For 2,000 Daura Residents 

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2 months ago

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May 18, 2026

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has held its 7th Retreat Medical Outreach in Daura, Katsina State,
Customs said the Free medical outreach is aimed at providing free healthcare services to residents of the area.
Speaking during the event, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Ahmad Tijjani-Abe, said the programme would provide general medical consultations, dental care, eye and ear care, as well as minor surgical operations for beneficiaries.
Tijjani-Abe said medical teams deployed for the exercise would also provide free medications to patients attending the outreach.
He added that the service would visit schools within the area to deworm students and distribute health kits and mosquito nets to help prevent malaria among children.
Also Speaking, Dr Ethelbert Ikechukwu, Medical Team Leader of the outreach said the exercise was part of the initiative of the Comptroller-General of Customs, which had been carried out in different parts of the country over the years.
According to him, the programme is designed to support communities where customs personnel operate by offering free medical consultations and medications to residents.
Ikechukwu further explained that patients whose conditions could not be fully managed at the outreach centre would be referred to appropriate medical facilities for further treatment.
Ikechukwu urged members of the public to take advantage of the exercise, noting that the medical teams comprised highly qualified healthcare professionals.
The outreach targets about 2,000 patients across various areas of medical care.
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