Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to compel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to apologise for verbally attacking a naval officer, A.M. Yerima, during a confrontation over a disputed plot of land in Abuja.
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, Falana said both Wike and the officer acted unlawfully, though the minister’s conduct was unbecoming of a public official.
He said while Wike was performing his statutory duties under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, his use of abusive language toward the military officer was unacceptable. “No minister has the power to call any Nigerian a fool. Mr. President should compel him to apologise. He was lucky he was not shot,” Falana said.
The senior advocate, however, faulted the naval officer for obstructing the minister, noting that his claim of acting on “superior orders” to guard a private property was illegal. He commended the officer’s restraint despite the provocation, describing it as commendable professionalism.
Falana also criticised the Federal Government’s plan to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu serve the remainder of his UK prison sentence in Nigeria. He questioned why similar arrangements were not being made for the over 200 other Nigerians jailed in Britain, and challenged the legality of the prisoner exchange programme since no British convict is currently serving time in Nigeria.
Delivering a lecture themed “Litigation as a Bloodline of Justice: Building the Next Generation of Advocates”, Falana urged law students to embrace technology and show active interest in national issues.
During the event, the University conferred on him the honorary title of Senior Advocate of the Masses, which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians.
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, praised the initiative for connecting students with legal practitioners, while LAWSAN President, Abiola Akingbolu, reiterated the association’s commitment to intellectual growth and mentorship for aspiring advocates.
