NBA Lagos slams navy over ‘deserter’ tag on retired officer, demands retraction
The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has faulted the Nigerian Navy’s classification of retired naval officer and lawyer, Vice Admiral Dada Labinjo, as a deserter, describing the move as false, baseless, and in contempt of a valid court judgment.
In a signal issued on September 3, 2025, at about 14:25 hours, the Navy declared “Captain D.O. Labinjo, Service No. NN0408,” alongside Lt. Cdr. S.A. Ibe-Lamberts, as deserters and ordered their arrest if found.
Reacting to the notice, NBA Lagos chairman, Uchenna Akingbade, urged the Navy to immediately retract the signal, stressing that the declaration directly contradicted a subsisting judgment of the National Industrial Court delivered on March 24, 2025.
“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 association stated.
According to the NBA, the March judgment by Justice I. Nweneka had conclusively resolved the matter, ruling that Labinjo was not absent without leave, and affirming that he had already exceeded the statutory age of 60 years and 35 years of service by April 12, 2017. The court therefore declared him retired with effect from that date at the rank of Vice Admiral.
The association warned that the Navy’s latest action amounted to contempt of court, insisting that it undermined the judiciary.
“The allegation is false, baseless, and in contempt of a subsisting court judgment. From the foregoing, it is beyond dispute that Vice Admiral Labinjo (retd.) ceased to be a serving officer as of April 12, 2017,” the statement added.
