The General Assembly of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) has asked the embattled president of the association, Capt. Niyi Labinjo to step aside until he clears his name with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the $5.85million ship purchase scandal involving him and an indigenous shipping firm, Accenk Maritime and Energy Services Limited.
The members who unanimously agreed that Capt. Labinjo should step aside however asked the 2nd Vice President of the association, Alhaji Aminu Umar to take over as the acting president pending when Capt. Labinjo clears his name with the EFCC.
This is contained in a statement by the association’s Publicity Secretary, Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, who said the decision asking Labinjo to step aside was taken in the best interest of the association.
The statement said the association had received letters from various agencies of government and Parastatals who threatened not to deal with the association if Labinjo still remained the president.
It read in part that, “the decision was not to witch-hunt Capt Labinjo but for the interest of the association.
“We have therefore decided that the President should step aside to allow him concentrate on clearing his involvement in this allegation and to allow the association focus on our aim and objectives.”
It explained further that Labinjo had not been sacked or suspended from the association, but was only asked to step aside from the office of President so that the bandwagon of the scandal on his head would not rub off on the association.
“We have reiterated that anytime he comes with a letter from the anti corruption agency stating that he has cleared his name he would be immediately reinstated as the President.”
The association, however, warned in the statement that no transactions should be entered into with Labinjo on its
behalf.
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It also said that the position of the Lagos Coordinator of the association shall remain vacant, and that the position of the Director General had not been filled in accordance with the constitution and remained unfilled.
It would be recalled that Capt. Labinjo, and his wife, Bola were detained and released next day at the Ikoyi Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with a ship purchase scandal involving them and an indigenous shipping company, Acenk Maritime and Energy Services Limited.
