Court directs Navy to recognise Dada Labinjo as Retired Vice Admiral

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has directed the Nigerian Navy to recognise Navy Captain Dada Labinjo as a retired Vice Admiral with full benefits, rights, and privileges, effective from April 12, 2017.

Justice Ikechi Nweneka delivered the ruling on March 24, 2025, in Lagos, in suit number NICN/LA/67/2023, filed by Labinjo against the Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Navy Board, and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Labinjo, who was disengaged from the service as a captain, filed the suit through his lawyer, Andrew Igboekwe (SAN), seeking 21 reliefs.

He requested the court to enforce earlier judgments by the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal High Court, which had all ruled in his favour and ordered his reinstatement following an unlawful dismissal in 2001.

The court’s judgment directed the defendants to recognise Labinjo as a retired Vice Admiral with effect from April 12, 2017.

It also ordered that he be accorded all the corresponding benefits of the rank.

The judge stated: “An order directing the defendants jointly and/or severally to accord all the rights, benefits, and privileges of a retired vice admiral of the Nigerian Navy to the claimant, Dada Olaniyi Labinjo, with effect from 12th April 2017.”

In addition, the court ordered the Navy to pay outstanding salaries and allowances dating back to March 26, 2001, until January 2024, including gratuity for his service from January 7, 1975, to April 2017. Pension payments from April 2017 to March 2025 were also awarded, as well as security debarment allowance as of 2022.

Justice Nweneka instructed the defendants to pay all monetary awards either directly to the claimant or to his lawyer’s firm, Messrs Andy Igboekwe, SAN & Co., within 30 days. The court also directed that his retirement be officially published in the Federal Government’s Gazette and all necessary public and military records.

The judgment further stipulated that the total compensation should attract 10 per cent interest annually from the judgment date until it is fully paid.

Speaking after the ruling, Labinjo’s counsel, Andy Igboekwe (SAN), expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, describing it as long-awaited justice for his client who had been wrongly dismissed from service over two decades ago.

He added, “I believe the Nigerian Navy, being a law-abiding institution, will respect and promptly comply with the court’s decision.”