By Ademola Adekusibe
September 11, 2025
A fresh wave of outrage is sweeping through Nigeria’s legal community as the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced a massive protest march against the Nigerian Navy over what it describes as a brazen disregard for the rule of law and violation of fundamental rights.
At the center of the storm is Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (Rtd.), a respected senior officer and esteemed member of the NBA, whom the Navy controversially branded a “deserter” despite a clear and subsisting judgment from the National Industrial Court affirming his rights.
The NBA Lagos Branch, under the leadership of its Chairman, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, did not mince words, accusing the Navy of “flagrant disobedience of court orders” and warning that such behavior strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s democracy and justice system.
In a strongly worded notice, the NBA condemned the continued humiliation of Admiral Labinjo and announced a protest march designed to force accountability. The demonstration, set for Friday, September 12, 2025, will see hundreds of lawyers in full regalia march to the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, where they will deliver a letter of protest and demand immediate redress.
The convergence point is Marine Bridge, Ijora, by 10:00 a.m., while members on Lagos Island are to gather at the Nigerian Law School by 8:00 a.m. to join buses heading to the venue.
“This peaceful protest is a stand for justice, accountability, and the supremacy of our Courts. No institution, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” the notice declared.
Analysts say the move could set a historic precedent, as it is rare for the Nigerian Bar Association to directly confront a military institution in such dramatic fashion. Within Yoruba circles, the protest is also being hailed as a powerful defense of one of their own, Vice Admiral Labinjo, who is seen as a victim of systemic injustice.
The protest underscores a growing frustration with impunity across Nigeria. For many, it is not just about Labinjo but about the survival of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
All eyes are now on the streets of Lagos, where black-robed lawyers are set to challenge the Navy in a showdown that could redefine the balance between military power and constitutional supremacy in Nigeria.
