Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to publicly apologize for verbally abusing a serving naval officer, A.M. Yerima, during a heated 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), UNIABUJA Chapter.
According to him, the incident was a clear case of both parties taking the law into their own hands.
“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,” Falana stated.
While noting that Wike acted within his statutory powers under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, the Senior Advocate criticized the Minister’s conduct, describing it as lacking decorum and emotional intelligence. He referenced a case in Ghana where a minister was forced to apologize for similar derogatory remarks, emphasizing that humility is an essential trait in public service.
Falana also faulted the naval officer for obstructing the Minister from carrying out his lawful duties, calling the officer’s actions illegal.
“The officer violated the law by guarding private property while claiming to act on superior orders. Those orders were unlawful. But the Minister also went off track. Even the President cannot call any Nigerian a fool,” he added, commending the officer for maintaining restraint despite provocation.
The fiery lawyer also took a swipe at the Federal Government over its reported plan to have former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, serve the remainder of his UK prison term in Nigeria following his conviction for organ trafficking.
“I will take up this matter. The so-called prisoner exchange programme is questionable because there is no British citizen serving a prison term in Nigeria,” Falana said, questioning why the government appeared selective in its compassion, given that 232 other Nigerians remain in British prisons.
Speaking on the theme of the event, “Litigation as the Bloodline of Justice: Building the Next Generation of Advocates,” Falana urged law students to embrace technology as courts across West Africa adopt virtual hearings and electronic filing systems. He also encouraged them to be active participants in national discourse, promoting justice and good governance.
The event also featured the conferment of the honorary title “Senior Advocate of the Masses” on Falana, which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians.
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, commended LAWSAN for bridging legal theory with practice, stressing that discipline, integrity, and ethics remain the backbone of the legal profession.
LAWSAN President, Abiola Akingbolu, reaffirmed the association’s dedication to intellectual growth and mentorship, noting that “mentorship remains key to grooming the next generation of advocates.”
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