By Mohammed I. Tsav
The labelling of the retired Naval Officer; Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo, by the Nigerian Navy; as a “deserter” is rather a malicious concert orchestrated by the Naval Command to tarnish and isolate a deserving officer who has risen through the ranks to become a Naval General, Vice Admiral. It is designed to discredit the record of the “Prince of the Sea” as the retired Vice Admiral is fondly called by his colleagues and friends.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, in Suit No: NICN/LA/67/2023; delivered a judgment on the 24th of March 2025, which unequivocally stated that Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo lawfully retired from the Nigerian Navy effectively from the 11th, day of April 2017. The said judgement is public record and free for anybody to access including the Nigerian Navy whom I believe have a copy. It is rather contemptuous for the Nigerian Naval Command to circulate a signal dated 3rd, day of September 2025, within its ranks that that the said retired Vice Admiral is a deserter. This signal is calculated to rubbish the record of a brilliant officer after retirement.
The Nigerian Navy’s public labelling of a retired Vice-Admiral as a deserter, despite a court judgment stating otherwise, has several implications:
Legally, the Naval Command’s action could be interpreted and seen as contempt of court, and undermining the authority of the judiciary. This situation would further re-emphasise and add to the unruly nature and unsavoury incidents of the armed forces’ disregard for judicial decisions, potentially leading to further conflicts between military and civil authorities.
Politically, the Naval Command’s action will strain relations between civilian government and the armed forces institutions, raising concerns about the armed forces’ role in democratic governance. It will further erode public confidence and trust in both the armed forces and the judicial system, as citizens might perceive the Navy as being above the law.
Socially, the unlawful labelling of the Vice-Admiral as a deserter; would stigmatise him, thereby causing harm to his reputation, and social standing. It also will affect his post-service life and career. This incident could negatively impact on the morale of serving and retired personnel, creating divisions or fears regarding the treatment of veterans.
Operationally, the Nigerian Navy’s malicious focus on the Vice Admiral may detract from its operational effectiveness and readiness, as internal conflicts consume resources, attention and espirit-de-corp. The recruitment and retention of potential young officers coukd be imperilled as they would be discouraged from joining an organization perceived as legally, politically, socially and operationally unstable and divided.
It is rather disheartening that the Nigerian Navy can embark on “dirty tricks” campaign against one of its own. This is not a healthy situation. I have not heard of a Vice Admiral deserting after rising to that rank. Is the Navy suggesting that there is more to this drama than meets the eye?
In essence, the Nigerian Navy’s action does have significant legal, political, social, and operational repercussions, potentially leading to broader implications for armed forces/civil relations in Nigeria. The bottom-line is that nobody or institution is above the law, including the Nigerian Navy. We are all subject to the Rule of Law. A court of competent jurisdiction has judged that the Retired Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo is not a deserter, and he so stands.
* Mohammed I. TSAV is a legal practitioner and writes from Abuja
