A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and constitutional law expert, Prof. Sebastine Hon, has described the recent confrontation between a Naval officer, A.M. Yerima, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as a clear breach of the law.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Prof. Hon condemned the officer’s conduct, which reportedly involved obstructing the minister’s access to a disputed plot of land in Abuja. The legal luminary maintained that such an act was indefensible, stressing that no military order could justify the obstruction of a government official performing his lawful duties.
“The action of the naval officer amounts to a breach of the law and a violation of the principle of civil authority over military personnel,” Hon stated. “Even if the land in question is under dispute, the proper procedure would be to seek redress through the appropriate legal channels, not by confronting or defying a serving minister.”
Hon, a renowned constitutional scholar, further emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution clearly places the military under civilian control and that every officer is duty-bound to uphold this constitutional hierarchy. He warned that actions like Yerima’s, if left unchecked, could set a dangerous precedent for insubordination and undermine the rule of law.
He also called on the Nigerian Navy to take disciplinary measures against the officer involved, not only to protect the image of the armed forces but also to reinforce the principle of accountability within the security establishment.
“The military, as an institution, must always operate within the confines of the law and respect constituted civil authority. Anything short of that erodes public trust and weakens our democratic order,” Hon added.
The incident, which has since generated wide public debate, reportedly occurred during Wike’s inspection of the disputed property. While details of the ownership tussle remain unclear, observers say the confrontation highlights growing tensions between some security personnel and civil authorities over land administration in the Federal Capital Territory.
