A leading constitutional law expert and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Sebastine Hon, has condemned the actions of Naval Officer A.M. Yerima during a recent confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
The legal scholar described the officer’s conduct as a clear breach of the law, emphasizing that military personnel are not above civil authority
In a public statement, Prof. Hon criticized Yerima’s decision to obstruct Minister Wike from accessing the land, allegedly under the pretext of “obeying superior orders.” He argued that military obedience does not extend to unlawful commands, citing Supreme Court precedents including Onunze v. State (2023) and Nigeria Air Force v. James (2002).
“The duty of a junior officer to obey the orders of his superiors, even though strongly upheld in military and paramilitary circles, has its limitations,” Hon stated. “No military officer is permitted to enforce illegal orders, especially when it involves obstructing a government official from performing lawful duties.”
The disputed land, located in the Gaduwa District of Abuja, is reportedly linked to a retired senior naval officer. The confrontation, which was captured in a viral video, showed Wike being denied access to the site by armed personnel allegedly under Yerima’s command.
Prof. Hon further noted that military officers have no legal mandate to guard private construction sites, especially those not sanctioned by the Nigerian Navy or other authorized bodies. He urged the retired officer involved to seek assistance from the police or civil authorities if there were legitimate security concerns.
The incident has sparked widespread debate about the limits of military involvement in civil affairs and the importance of upholding the rule of law. Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), also weighed in, warning that such confrontations pose a threat to national security.