Our Reporter | Abuja, Nigeria
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant A. Yerima, over a disputed plot of land in Abuja, as “unnecessary and avoidable.”
The minister’s remarks, made in an interview with DCL Hausa and released o Wednesday via YouTube, came amid a wave of public debate over a viral video showing Wike angrily confronting armed naval personnel guarding a property in Gaduwa District, Abuja. The officers, led by Lt. Yerima, were reportedly acting on the instructions of a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.), who allegedly claimed ownership of the land.
Matawalle said the altercation could have been avoided if Wike had allowed the military to follow its internal chain of command and conduct a formal investigation into the matter.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate,” Matawalle said. “The officer explained that he was simply obeying orders given to him. Wike should not have exchanged words with him; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors.”
According to him, Wike had earlier contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to exercise patience while the matter was being investigated — advice the FCT Minister allegedly ignored.
“He (Wike) did not wait for the investigation and went straight to the site. As a leader, he should have exercised patience,” the Defence Minister stated.
Matawalle defended the conduct of Lt. Yerima, insisting the officer had acted within the limits of military discipline and in accordance with lawful orders.
“The officer’s action was lawful because he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders,” he said. “He did not commit any offence under military regulations; he merely obeyed a lawful order and followed due process.”
The minister further warned against public officials disrespecting members of the Armed Forces, noting that such behaviour indirectly undermines the authority of the President, who serves as Commander-in-Chief.
“Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President. There is no basis for any punishment against the officer because he conducted himself respectfully,” he added.
Matawalle emphasised that his comments should not be mistaken for supporting military excesses but rather a call for due process and respect for the military’s hierarchy.
“This is not about condoning indiscipline. Every officer has superiors, and such matters must go through proper administrative channels,” he clarified.
The Defence Minister revealed that the Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed Gaduwa site to begin a formal investigation into the ownership of the land.
“Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area, the matter will be investigated to determine who owns the lawful documents,” he confirmed.
Matawalle also disclosed that while the Ministry of Defence had not received any official complaint from Wike, he personally contacted the FCT Minister after the confrontation went viral.
“I called him and advised that he should have spoken with me before going there, rather than confronting the officers directly,” he said.
The controversy has reignited public debate over Wike’s seeming combative leadership style. However, some analysts condemned the action of the military officer as illegal, citing the Supreme Court Ruling in Onunze v. State (2023) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1885) 61 and Nigeria Air Force v. James (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt. 798) 295 which clearly established that military officers are not bound to obey illegal or manifestly unjust orders.
Some legal luminaries also argue that, by section 302 of the Constitution, together with other extant Acts of the National Assembly, the President of Nigeria has delegated all powers with respect to land administration in the FCT Abuja to the minister. Hence, arguing that Wike was acting within the purview of the law. However, some have maintained that the Minister shouldn’t have resorted to verbal confrontation with the officer. Some analysts say the incident underscores the need for improved coordination between civil authorities and the military, particularly on matters involving land and security in the capital.
The dispute centres on a parcel of land in the high-value Gaduwa District of Abuja, reportedly claimed by a former Chief of Naval Staff. The property had been under naval protection until Wike, during an inspection visit, confronted the officers, accusing the retired admiral of illegal occupation. The heated exchange, captured on video, quickly went viral, sparking widespread reactions and prompting the Defence Ministry to intervene.