The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a stern condemnation of the Nigerian Navy's recent actions against one of its members, retired Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo.
The NBA has consequently described the "deserter" signal issued against the retired officer as false, baseless, and a flagrant act of contempt against a subsisting court judgment.
In a statement made available to the media, the NBA demanded the immediate retraction of the "deserter" tag placed on the retired naval officer, formerly known as Captain Dada Olaniyi Labinjo.
The release, titled "Condemns Violation of the Fundamental Rights of Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (Rtd) By The Nigerian Navy: Demands Immediate Retraction Of 'Deserter' Signal Issued on the 3rd day of September 2025," was signed by the branch chairman, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade.
The NBA’s statement highlighted the legal body’s deep concern over what it called a "grave overreach" by the Nigerian Navy.
The association called on all law enforcement agencies to respect the sanctity of court judgments and adhere to the rule of law, which it described as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy.
"The attention of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, has been drawn to a Nigerian Navy signal dated the 3rd day of September 2025, which classified our esteemed member, Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (formerly Navy Captain) (Rtd.), as a DESERTER.
“This allegation is false, baseless, and in contempt of a subsisting Court judgment," the statement read.
The NBA's position is firmly rooted in a judgment delivered by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on March 24, 2025, in the case of Dada Olaniyi Labinjo v. Nigerian Navy & 3 Ors (Suit No. NICN/LA/67/2023).
The court, presided over by Justice I. G. Nweneka, made several definitive rulings on the matter.
According to the NBA, the court held that the claimant, Labinjo, was not "absent without official leave."
Crucially, the judgment noted that by April 12, 2017, Labinjo had exceeded the statutory age of 60 years and 35 years of service, and thus "must retire immediately after reinstatement."
The court explicitly rejected the Navy’s argument that he could be kept in service beyond this date and declared him a retired Naval Officer with the rank of Vice Admiral, effective from April 11, 2017.
The NBA's statement pointed out the glaring contradiction: "From the foregoing, it is beyond dispute that Vice Admiral Labinjo (Rtd.) ceased to be a serving Naval officer as of 12th April 2017.
“Nevertheless, by a signal issued on 3rd September 2025, the Navy purported to classify him as a deserter with effect from 2nd December 2019.
“This step is unlawful and particularly troubling, as it was taken months after the National Industrial Court, in its binding judgment of 24th March 2025, conclusively resolved this very issue."
The legal body stressed that if the Nigerian Navy was dissatisfied with the court's decision, it should have sought redress through lawful channels instead of taking "arbitrary actions" that undermine the authority of the judiciary.
The NBA concluded its statement by pledging its unwavering support for Vice Admiral Labinjo, vowing to take all necessary steps to protect his constitutional rights and freedoms.
It assured its members and the public that it would continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure compliance with judicial decisions.
"The NBA Lagos Branch will continue, without compromise, to defend and promote it while safeguarding the fundamental rights of our members and, indeed, the wider public," the statement concluded.
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