Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has dismissed any justification for disciplining Lieutenant A. Yerima, the naval officer involved in Tuesday’s confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing the encounter as “unnecessary and avoidable.”
The clash, which occurred over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja’s Gaduwa District, saw Wike confronting Yerima and his team of armed naval personnel guarding the property reportedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
In a video widely circulated online, Wike accused the retired naval chief of unlawfully taking possession of the land — a scene that sparked widespread debate over protocol and civility among government officials.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa on Wednesday, Matawalle said the incident should have been handled through formal communication rather than a public altercation.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply obeying orders given to him. Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” the minister said.
According to Matawalle, the naval officer conducted himself professionally and acted strictly under orders, maintaining composure throughout the encounter.
“He (Wike) is our colleague, and Wike could have reached out to us to resolve whatever issue. The officer’s action was lawful because he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders. Therefore, the young officer only carried out his duty worthy of commendation,” he stated.
The minister further clarified that the officer’s actions did not breach any military code of conduct.
“He did not commit any offence under military regulations; he merely obeyed a lawful order and followed due process. If you observe carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly,” Matawalle added.
He cautioned public officials against undermining the authority of the armed forces, noting that disrespecting men in uniform indirectly challenges the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.
“There is, therefore, no offence under military law for which he should be charged. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform he was wearing. Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is, therefore, no basis for any punishment against the officer,” he said.
Matawalle also clarified that his remarks were not a defence of military misconduct but a reminder that government officials must respect the established chain of command.
“This is not about supporting the military to act disrespectfully toward civilians. The Minister should understand that every officer has superiors. I gathered that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for an investigation,” he explained.
He added that despite receiving such advice, Wike proceeded to the site to confront the naval personnel.
“However, he did not wait and instead went straight to the site. As a leader, he ought to have exercised patience and waited for the outcome of the investigation,” Matawalle said.
The Defence Minister disclosed that the Chief of Naval Staff had since visited the disputed land to commence a formal inquiry into the ownership.
“Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area—since it involves a land dispute—the matter will be investigated to know who owns the lawful documents,” he said.
Matawalle stressed that any revocation or reassignment of the land should follow established administrative procedures rather than confrontation.
“If the land has been revoked, there are established procedures to be followed diplomatically,” he stated.
He further revealed that while the Defence Ministry has not received a formal report from Wike regarding the incident, he personally reached out to the FCT Minister after the video surfaced.
“We have not received any formal complaint from Wike, but I called him after the video went viral and advised that he should have spoken with me before going there, rather than confronting the officers directly,” Matawalle added.
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