- Nigerian Navy spokesperson Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu denied the allegations
The Nigerian Navy has been accused of unlawfully detaining Port Harcourt-based lawyer Kevin Okorie for supporting a bill to establish a Nigerian Coast Guard.
Okorie’s wife, Esther, said he was arrested on September 10, 2024, by naval personnel from the Iwofe Aker Base and has been held alongside two others, Jeffrey Agogoh and Udo.
She claimed his detention may be linked to his advocacy for the Coast Guard bill, which has reached the public hearing stage in the National Assembly.
Esther stated that initial denials by naval officers were contradicted when Okorie called her from detention using an officer’s phone. Despite this, she has not been allowed to see him and was later told he had been transferred to Abuja without further details.
The Nigerian Bar Association and the community have been petitioned for intervention, as Okorie’s family struggles with his absence. However, Nigerian Navy spokesperson Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu denied the allegations, stating, “No such person in Naval custody.”
Okorie and the others are said to have been advocating for a Nigerian Coast Guard, raising concerns about possible human rights violations.
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