Naval Officer in Face-Off with Wike Breached the Law, Says SAN
Constitutional law expert Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, has said the naval officer involved in an Abuja land face-off with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike violated the law. Hon condemned Naval Officer A.M. Yerima’s decision to block Wike’s access to a disputed plot, insisting military personnel are not bound to obey illegal or manifestly unjust orders. Citing Supreme Court rulings, Hon argued that the officer's conduct—guarding a private construction site under suspicious circumstances—was unlawful and breached both the Nigerian Constitution and military regulations. He stressed Wike's authority as FCT Minister, acting “in loco” of the President for Abuja land administration under Sections 297(2) and 302 of the 1999 Constitution, meaning Wike should not have been obstructed, even by a serving soldier. The SAN asserts the officer could face court martial for obstructing a public officer in performance of his duty. The incident, […]
