The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has kicked against the ‘Deserter’ against a former Nigerian Navy officer and lawyer, Captain Dada Labinjo, demanding that Naval headquarters should retract the tag.
The NBA, through its chairman, Uchenna Akingbade, in responding to the signal, described it as false, baseless, and in contempt of a subsisting court judgment.
The Nigerian Navy had on September 3, 2025, about 14.25 hours, issued a signal to all its formations declaring ‘Captain’ DO Labinjo of Service No. NN0408, deserter alongside Lt Cdr Sa Ibe-Lamberts NN 0840 and ordered to be apprehended if found.
However, the NBA, in calling on the Nigeria Navy to immediately retract the signal, stated that the ‘Deserter’ signal was in contempt of a subsisting court judgment, adding that it was a ‘grave overreach.’
It therefore called on law enforcement agencies to remain law-abiding and to respect the sanctity of court judgments.
According to the NBA statement: “Our attention has been drawn to a Nigerian Navy signal dated, September 3, 2025, which classified our esteemed member, Vice Admiral Dada 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 presided over by Justice I. Nweneka, delivered on March 24, 2025, where the court held emphatically in paragraphs 42 and 48-52 as follows: e Para 42: The claimant was not absent without official leave. e Paras 48-49: By April 12, 2017, the claimant had exceeded the statutory age of 60 years and 35 years of service, and must retire immediately after reinstatement. e 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 April 11, 2017.
“From the forgoing, it is beyond dispute that Vice Admiral Labinjo (retd) ceased to be a serving Naval officer as of April 12, 2017.
“Nevertheless, by a signal issued on September 3, 2025, the Navy purported to classify him as a deserter with effect from December 2, 2019. This step is unlawful and particularly troubling, as it was taken months after the National Industrial Court, in its binding judgment of March 24, 2025, conclusively resolved this very issue.
“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.”