Falana urges Tinubu to compel Wike to apologize for insulting naval officer
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has asked President Bola Tinubu to mandate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to apologize for using derogatory language against a serving naval officer, A. M. Yerima, during a confrontation over a plot of land in Abuja.
Falana made the call on Thursday at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, organized by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN). He described the clash as an incident where both men acted outside the law, stressing that no public official has the right to verbally abuse a citizen.
“On no ground should a Minister insult or abuse a citizen. No Minister has the power to call any Nigerian a fool. Mr. President should compel the Minister to apologize. He was lucky he was not shot,” he said, adding that Wike acted without emotional intelligence despite being within his statutory powers under Section 11 of the Land Use Act.
Falana also faulted the naval officer, stating that he illegally prevented the Minister from carrying out his duties by guarding private property under “unlawful superior orders.” He, however, praised the officer for exercising restraint despite the provocation.
The senior advocate further criticized the Federal Government’s alleged plan to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu serve the rest of his UK prison sentence in Nigeria. He questioned why the government was prioritizing Ekweremadu’s case over the 232 other Nigerians currently imprisoned in Britain, calling the proposed prisoner exchange arrangement “questionable.”
Speaking on the event’s theme, “Litigation as the Bloodline of Justice,” Falana urged law students to embrace technology as courts across West Africa move towards virtual hearings and electronic filing. He encouraged students to remain engaged in national issues and work toward justice and good governance.
Falana was conferred with the title “Senior Advocate of the Masses,” which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians.
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, commended LAWSAN for helping students connect legal theory with real-world practice and emphasized the importance of discipline, integrity, and ethics in the legal profession.
Earlier, LAWSAN President Abiola Akingbolu reaffirmed the association’s commitment to mentorship, describing it as essential in grooming the next generation of advocates.
