Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has called on President Bola Tinubu to compel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to apologise for using derogatory language against a naval officer, A.M. Yerima, during a confrontation over a disputed property in Abuja.
Falana, speaking on Thursday at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, said both Wike and the military officer acted outside the law in the viral altercation that took place on land reportedly belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
“On no account should a Minister insult or abuse a serving officer,” Falana said.
“Mr. President should compel the Minister to apologise. He was lucky he wasn’t shot. Even the President himself cannot call any Nigerian a fool.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained that although Wike was performing his statutory duties under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, his use of inflammatory language and lack of restraint undermined the dignity of his office.
He, however, noted that the naval officer was also at fault for obstructing the minister, saying his presence on the site to guard private property was “illegal” and that “superior orders” could not justify such an act.
“The military officer contravened the law by preventing the Minister from carrying out his duty. His orders were illegal. But the Minister also went off track,” Falana added, commending the officer’s restraint despite provocation.
Falana also criticised the Federal Government’s reported move to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu serve the remainder of his UK prison sentence in Nigeria.
He questioned why the government would single out Ekweremadu while ignoring over 230 other Nigerians currently serving prison terms in the United Kingdom.
“Why is the government seeking his transfer when no British citizen is in a Nigerian prison under any prisoner exchange arrangement?” he asked, vowing to challenge the policy.
The renowned human rights lawyer was speaking at an event themed “Litigation as the Bloodline of Justice: Building the Next Generation of Advocates.”
The programme was organised by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), University of Abuja Chapter.
During the ceremony, Falana was conferred with the honorary title of Senior Advocate of the Masses, which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians.
Also addressing the gathering, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, Dean of the Faculty of Law, commended LAWSAN for creating a platform that connects students with seasoned legal practitioners, stressing the importance of ethics, discipline, and continuous learning.
LAWSAN President, Abiola Akingbolu, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to fostering professional development and mentorship among law students, saying such initiatives prepare them for the realities of legal practice in Nigeria.
