Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has ignited a fresh national debate after demanding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to tender an unreserved public apology for verbally attacking a naval officer during a heated confrontation over a disputed plot of land in Abuja.
Falana, speaking Thursday, November 13, at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja , an event organised by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), UNIABUJA Chapter condemned the minister’s conduct, describing the clash as “a shameful situation where both parties took the law into their own hands.”
The fiery Senior Advocate did not hold back:
“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 apologise. He was lucky he was not shot,” Falana declared, stressing that Wike’s remarks were unbecoming of a public official.
According to Falana, the minister was “fortunate to have escaped serious harm,” noting that the confrontation could have escalated into a full-blown tragedy.
But while Falana is pushing for ministerial accountability, the incident has sharply divided public opinion with some political figures jumping to Wike’s defence.
In a strongly worded reaction, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe lambasted the naval officer, accusing him of “challenging constituted authority.”
“The young officer has no respect for constituted authority; this is unacceptable. His uniform should be removed immediately,” Igbokwe fumed.
He went further to describe the officer’s action as “an assault on a lawyer, a former local government chairman, a former minister of state, a former governor and now the Minister of FCT,” arguing that such behaviour should not be tolerated in a disciplined force.
“A small military officer assaulting a lawyer… and you people are clapping for the boy? Jisienu ike,” he posted, throwing his full weight behind Wike.
The clash has triggered strong reactions across social media, with Nigerians split between Falana’s insistence on humility in public office and Igbokwe’s defence of hierarchical authority.
As the controversy continues to grow, all eyes are now on the Presidency to see whether Tinubu will intervene and whether Wike will bow to pressure to apologise.
