Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to compel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to publicly apologise for using uncomplimentary language against a naval officer, Lieutenant A. M. Yerima, during their recent confrontation over a disputed plot of land in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of the Legal Year of the University of Abuja’s Faculty of Law, Falana said both Wike and the officer acted outside the law. He stressed that while the Minister was performing his statutory duty under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, his outburst and lack of restraint were inappropriate.
“No Minister has the right to insult any Nigerian. The President should compel Wike to apologise. He was lucky he was not shot,” Falana said.
The Senior Advocate also faulted the officer for preventing the Minister from carrying out his lawful responsibility, describing his actions as “illegal duty” since he claimed to be protecting land belonging to a private individual.
“The officer acted on illegal orders, but the Minister went off track with his words,” he added.
Falana further commended the naval officer for maintaining composure despite provocation, saying it reflected professionalism and discipline.
The lawyer also criticised the Federal Government’s decision to seek the repatriation of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his UK prison sentence in Nigeria. He questioned why the government was only concerned about one high-profile inmate while ignoring the plight of over 200 Nigerians still serving in British prisons.
“There is no British citizen serving in a Nigerian prison. Why then should we accept this one-sided arrangement?” he asked, vowing to challenge the prisoner transfer move.
Falana’s remarks came during a lecture themed “Litigation as the Bloodline of Justice: Building the Next Generation of Advocates.”
At the event, he was honoured with the title Senior Advocate of the Masses for his decades of service to social justice, which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians.
Other speakers, including the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, and LAWSAN President Abiola Akingbolu, commended Falana’s advocacy and urged students to uphold integrity, discipline, and continuous learning in their legal careers.
Speaking at the opening of the Legal Year of the University of Abuja’s Faculty of Law, Falana said both Wike and the officer acted outside the law. He stressed that while the Minister was performing his statutory duty under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, his outburst and lack of restraint were inappropriate.
“No Minister has the right to insult any Nigerian. The President should compel Wike to apologise. He was lucky he was not shot,” Falana said.
The Senior Advocate also faulted the officer for preventing the Minister from carrying out his lawful responsibility, describing his actions as “illegal duty” since he claimed to be protecting land belonging to a private individual.
“The officer acted on illegal orders, but the Minister went off track with his words,” he added.
Falana further commended the naval officer for maintaining composure despite provocation, saying it reflected professionalism and discipline.
The lawyer also criticised the Federal Government’s decision to seek the repatriation of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his UK prison sentence in Nigeria. He questioned why the government was only concerned about one high-profile inmate while ignoring the plight of over 200 Nigerians still serving in British prisons.
“There is no British citizen serving in a Nigerian prison. Why then should we accept this one-sided arrangement?” he asked, vowing to challenge the prisoner transfer move.
Falana’s remarks came during a lecture themed “Litigation as the Bloodline of Justice: Building the Next Generation of Advocates.”
At the event, he was honoured with the title Senior Advocate of the Masses for his decades of service to social justice, which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians.
Other speakers, including the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, and LAWSAN President Abiola Akingbolu, commended Falana’s advocacy and urged students to uphold integrity, discipline, and continuous learning in their legal careers.
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