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.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, Prof. Sam Egwu, has accused successive Nigerian presidents since 1999 of violating the Constitution by neglecting its fundamental principles of social justice, citizen welfare, and economic inclusion.

Egwu made the allegation yesterday at the National Conference on the Future of Democracy in Nigeria, organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), in Abuja.

The conference had as its theme “Sustaining Democratic Growth Beyond the Polls for Effective Governance.”

According to him, every administration since the return to democracy has governed in breach of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the state’s duty to promote the welfare, health, and education of citizens.

“All the presidents that have come since 1999 have never obeyed the Constitution,” Egwu said.
“Our Constitution commits Nigeria to social democracy, but successive governments have instead pursued liberal economic policies dictated by the World Bank and IMF, policies that contradict the social justice provisions of our Constitution.”

He urged political leaders to recommit to true democratisation and restore public confidence by ensuring that governance serves the people rather than foreign interests.

Also speaking at the event, 2027 presidential hopeful Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim warned that democracy in Africa risks losing its legitimacy if it fails to improve citizens’ lives.

He noted that democracy must go beyond elections to deliver prosperity and opportunity, adding that “people cannot eat democracy.”

“When democracy ceases to offer hope or opportunity, despair breeds nostalgia for authoritarianism,” he cautioned.

Citing Nigeria’s shrinking economy, he said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen from $574 billion in 2014 to $259 billion in 2025, reflecting rising poverty and disillusionment.

Drawing historical parallels, Olawepo-Hashim likened Africa’s fragile democracies to those of post–World War I Europe, which collapsed under economic strain and social unrest, giving rise to dictators such as Mussolini and Hitler.

He also hailed former NEC Chairman, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, for his courage during the June 12, 1993 presidential election, describing him as “a man whose integrity gave meaning to Nigeria’s democratic journey.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi’s call for Nigerians to mobilise against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, describing it as “political hallucination.”

In a statement titled “Mobilise Who? A Politician Rejected at Home Cannot Lead a National Revolt,” APC spokesman Mogaji Seye Oladejo said Amaechi had become “a political orphan” with no structure or following, especially in his home state of Rivers.

“Amaechi has lost his base, followers, and relevance,” the statement read.

“He cannot mobilise a nation when his own backyard has padlocked the gate against him.”

The party maintained that while Amaechi was “busy trying to resurrect his collapsed career,” President Tinubu was focused on delivering tangible results across sectors, including infrastructure, education, and investment.

The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed calls by former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi for Nigerians to mobilise against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the statement as “political daydreaming.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, and titled “Mobilise Who? A Politician Rejected at Home Cannot Lead a National Revolt,” the party described Amaechi as a “political orphan” who has lost relevance in his home state and across the country.

According to the APC, Amaechi’s name “no longer commands political weight” in Rivers State, where, it said, he had lost his structure, followers, and voice.

“A man who has been rejected at home cannot lead a national movement,” the statement read.

“His bitterness is not a national agenda but the cry of a sore loser still reeling from the humiliation of the 2022 APC presidential primary.”

The Lagos APC further stated that while Amaechi is “busy attempting to revive his collapsed political career,” President Tinubu is focused on governance and delivering tangible results.

It cited recent federal initiatives such as the NELFUND student loan programme, the establishment of CREDITCORP to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), and growing foreign investment interest from Qatar, the UAE, Europe, and the Ogunlesi-led consortium as examples of Tinubu’s achievements.

The statement also highlighted ongoing reforms across key sectors, including transport infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and security, which, it said, are stabilising Nigeria’s economy and future.

“The truth Amaechi avoids is simple: his problem is not Tinubu; his problem is political irrelevance,” the statement continued.

“Amaechi cannot preach mobilisation without a platform. Where is his political structure? Where are his followers? In politics, you cannot give what you don’t have.”

The party asserted that President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 “is not just possible but inevitable,” given what it called his “visible record of performance, leadership, and courage.”

It added: “Amaechi’s sudden activism is a familiar script”, failed politicians often imagine a revolution when they can no longer win elections. But Nigerians know better. You cannot defeat performance with propaganda.”

The Senate has dismissed reports suggesting that lawmakers were plotting to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing the claims as false, misleading, and aimed at sowing disunity in the upper chamber.

Speaking during plenary, the Senate Leader clarified that no discussions or moves toward Akpabio’s removal had taken place.

He explained that statements credited to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu regarding an alleged impeachment plan were taken out of context.

“From my discussions with Senator Kalu, it became clear that the statement attributed to him was misrepresented,” the Senate Leader said.

He cautioned that such misinformation could distract the legislature from addressing pressing national issues, stressing that senators remain united behind Akpabio’s leadership.

“There is no tension in this Senate. We are focused on delivering for Nigerians, and we will not allow rumours to derail our work,” he added.

The clarification was officially recorded in the Senate proceedings, as lawmakers reaffirmed their confidence in Akpabio and pledged continued cooperation under his leadership.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, had earlier told reporters that there had been an “attempt” to remove Akpabio but that it was thwarted.

Describing the development as a “family misunderstanding,” Kalu insisted there was no ongoing crisis within the Senate.

“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” Kalu said.

On the economy, the former Abia governor acknowledged that Nigerians were facing hardship but maintained that key macroeconomic indicators were improving.

“As a businessman, I am also feeling the pain. The macroeconomy is doing well, but the microeconomy is not. Foreign investors are returning, and the next step is ensuring that this progress translates into daily relief for ordinary Nigerians,” he stated.

Kalu also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s political direction, predicting that Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo would soon join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing him as “a natural progressive.”

He added, “I don’t see anything wrong with Soludo joining us. In fact, it’s confirmed that he will join the APC. He has no alternative.”

The lawmaker further expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, declaring that the president remains on course for a second term and currently faces “no real opposition.”

The federal government said Monday that it is actively engaging Washington through diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions following threats of U.S military action over the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told Sky News’ The World with Yalda Hakim that communication lines with U.S authorities had been opened and were helping American officials understand Nigeria’s complex social and religious landscape.

“We are talking to them, and they are beginning to see the situation more clearly,” Idris said, adding that much of the circulating information could not withstand proper scrutiny.

The warning from former U.S. President Donald Trump, posted on 31 October on Truth Social, accused Nigerian authorities of allowing Islamist extremists and Fulani herdsmen to kill thousands of Christians annually.

Trump reinstated Nigeria on the U.S list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) for alleged religious freedom violations, instructed the Pentagon to consider military options, and froze aid pending review.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the CPC designation on 1 November, citing mass persecution in northern and central Nigeria.

Abuja, however, rejected the genocide narrative, insisting that recent violence is driven by resource conflicts and criminality rather than religion.

Idris emphasized that Nigeria remains a constitutionally secular and multi-faith state.

“Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion under its constitution. Conflicts in the Middle Belt are not religious wars,” Idris said.

He also claimed that some U.S. concerns were influenced by lobbying linked to separatist groups, particularly the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which Nigeria classifies as a terrorist organization.

The federal government’s conciliatory stance follows weeks of escalating rhetoric between Abuja and Washington.

On 4 November, presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga accused U.S Senator Ted Cruz of sponsoring misinformation after he co-sponsored a resolution urging investigations into the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu has called for continued dialogue with the United States.

“The description of Nigeria as intolerant is inaccurate. We will continue to work with the United States to resolve these concerns through diplomatic and political means,” he said.

The dispute has drawn international attention. China urged Washington to avoid interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, while Russia warned against neo-colonial adventurism.

Chad temporarily closed its northern border with Nigeria, citing fears of regional instability.

Religious and communal violence remains a serious concern.

According to the National Human Rights Commission, at least 2,000 people were killed in communal clashes and insurgent attacks between January and September 2025.

The Nigerian Air Force continues operations against Islamist groups in the northeast, while local vigilante groups have struggled to contain reprisals between farmers and herders.

Despite the tensions, Nigeria remains a key counter-terrorism partner for the U.S in West Africa, receiving approximately $500 million annually in military and humanitarian assistance, and is considered vital for regional stability in the Sahel.