The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, on Monday staged a peaceful protest against the Nigerian Navy over what it described as blatant defiance of a valid court judgment.

The protest began at Marine Bridge, Ijora, with lawyers marching to the Western Naval Command Headquarters, Dockyard Road, Apapa, Lagos, where they presented a petition and demands. Members from Lagos Island had earlier assembled at the Nigerian Law School before moving to the venue in buses. According to the association, the protest was necessary to draw public attention to the Navy’s unlawful actions and to demand immediate compliance with the ruling, stressing that no institution is above the law.

In a statement signed by the branch chairman, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, the NBA explained that the action was prompted by the Navy’s continued description of Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (rtd), a senior lawyer and member of the association, as a “deserter,” despite a subsisting judgment of the National Industrial Court which ruled otherwise. The NBA condemned the Navy’s position as a violation of Labinjo’s fundamental rights and a flagrant disregard for judicial authority, warning that such actions undermine Nigeria’s justice system and threaten democracy itself.

The association reminded the Navy of the judgment delivered by Justice I.G. Nweneka on March 24, 2025, in Suit No. NICN/LA/67/2023: Dada Olaniyi Labinjo v. Nigerian Navy & 3 Ors. The court had ruled unequivocally that Labinjo was not absent without leave, and further held that by April 12, 2017, he had exceeded the statutory retirement age and length of service. Consequently, he was deemed retired as a Vice Admiral with effect from April 11, 2017. Despite this, the Navy, through a signal issued on September 3, 2025, classified him as a deserter with effect from December 2, 2019.

“The peaceful protest is a stand for justice, accountability, the supremacy of our courts, and the Rule of Law,” the NBA stated. “The Lagos Branch views this signal as unlawful and a grave overreach. We therefore call on the Nigerian Navy and all security agencies to act within the law and respect the sanctity of court judgments.”