A Federal High Court, Lagos, has restrained Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, from arresting a Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (retired), following a ‘deserter signal’ issued against him.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa who presided over the court also ordered the said the said deserter signal number 643NG dated 3rd September, 2025, which ordered the arrest or apprehension of the retired Naval Officer, “shall remain unexecuted”, untill the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Justice made the above orders while granting Exparte motion filed by the lawyer to the retired Vice Admiral, Andrew Igboekwe (SAN), in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1860/025.
Respondents in the suit are: THE Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff; the Navy Board and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
In making the orders, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled that: “…. after careful consideration of the application and submissions of Counsel. It is hereby ordered as follows: “That an Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the respondents whether by themselves, their staff including the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, their privies, agents or otherwise howsoever from arresting, apprehending, detaining, locking up or otherwise depriving the Applicant of his fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement whether on account of the Nigerian Navy signal No. 643NG dated 3rd September, 2025 which ordered his arrest or apprehension when seen or any other account whatsoever other than the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction, pending the hearing the determination of the substantive application i.e. the motion on notice for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the applicant filed in this suit.
“That an interim Order is made that the Nigerian Navy signal No. 643NG dated 3rd September, 2025 issued by the 1st-3rd respondents for the arrest and apprehension of the applicant when seen shall remain unexecuted by the respondent’s whether by themselves, their staff including the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, their privies, agents or otherwise howsoever, pending the hearing the determination of the substantive application i.e. the motion on notice for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the Applicant filed in this suit.”
Meanwhile, the hearing of the substantive suit has been adjourned to October 20, 2025.
