September 8, 2025
PRESS STATEMENT
NBA LAGOS BRANCH 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
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 Nigerian Navy is fully aware of the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria presided over by Hon. Justice I.G. Nweneka, delivered on the 24th day of March 2025 in Suit No. NICN/LA/67/2023: Dada Olaniyi Labinjo v. Nigerian Navy & 3 Ors, where the Court held emphatically in paragraphs 42 and 48–52 as follows:
Para 42: The Claimant was not absent without official leave.
Paras 48–49: By 12th April 2017, the Claimant had exceeded the statutory age of 60 years and 35 years of service, and must retire immediately after reinstatement.
Paras 50–51: The Court rejected the Navy’s argument that the Claimant could be kept in service beyond this date.
Para 52: The Claimant is declared a retired Naval Officer of the rank of Vice Admiral with effect from 11th April 2017.
From the forgoing, 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 NBA Lagos Branch views this signal as a grave overreach. We hereby call on the Nigerian Navy, and all law enforcement agencies, to remain law-abiding and to respect the sanctity of Court judgments. If dissatisfied with the decision of the Court, appropriate lawful channels exist for redress. The authority of the Court cannot be undermined by unlawful signals or arbitrary actions from the Nigerian Navy.
We stand in solidarity with our member, Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (Rtd.) and reiterate our unwavering commitment to ensuring justice and accountability. We assure our branch members and the general public that necessary steps are being taken to protect Vice Admiral Labinjo’s constitutional rights and to forestall any violation of his freedoms. The NBA Lagos Branch will continue to monitor this matter closely and take necessary steps to secure compliance with judicial decisions.
The Rule of Law remains the cornerstone of our democracy, and 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.
Signed,
Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade
Chairman,
NBA Lagos Branch
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