Following the widely publicized clash between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Naval Officer A.M. Yerima over a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, legal experts have weighed in on the incident. In a statement posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Prof. Sebastine Hon (SAN) described Yerima’s actions as a “breach of the law”, asserting that the officer had no legal basis to obstruct Wike’s access to the site.
The confrontation, captured on video, showed Wike ordering Yerima to “shut up” after the officer attempted to justify his presence on the land, allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo. Yerima claimed he was acting under “superior orders,” but Hon dismissed this defense, stating:
“The duty of a junior officer to obey the orders of his superiors, even though strongly upheld in military and paramilitary circles, has its legal limits.”
Hon emphasized that military personnel are not above civil authority, especially in matters of land administration, which fall under the jurisdiction of the FCT Minister. He called for disciplinary action and urged the military to clarify its position to prevent future confrontations.
Meanwhile, former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) also weighed in, warning that the clash posed a “clear and present danger to national security”, and urged President Bola Tinubu to take corrective action The Punch Ripples Nigeria The Whistler.
