Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) says Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), acted within his legal powers when he attempted to inspect a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that Falana’s position comes after viral footage showed military personnel preventing Wike from accessing the site, leading to a heated exchange between the minister’s security team and soldiers.
In the video, Wike was seen intervening to calm the confrontation while demanding to see the approval documents authorising the landowner’s possession. One of the soldiers claimed the landowner had the necessary paperwork and denied any intimidation.
Speaking at an event at the University of Abuja on Thursday, Falana criticised both sides — condemning Wike’s public insult of the officer while also faulting the soldiers for obstructing the minister.
“The president must direct the minister to apologise. That is what is done in civilised societies,” Falana said, citing a similar incident in Ghana where a deputy minister was forced to retract derogatory comments against the military.
Falana argued, however, that the officers acted beyond their authority by preventing the FCT minister from performing his lawful duty.
“Under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, the FCT minister and state governors have unquestionable powers to enter and inspect any land within their jurisdiction,” he said.
“The minister was performing his statutory duty. Any occupier of land must allow the minister or governor to enter and inspect the property.”
He added that while Wike should not have insulted the soldier, the military officer equally had no legal grounds to block the minister’s inspection, regardless of “orders from above.”
Falana maintained that if the minister had been denied access, he could have sought redress through lawful means such as a petition or a court order.
“On no ground can the minister take the law into his own hands by forcing himself and abusing a military officer,” he said.
The senior advocate dismissed claims that Wike’s verbal exchange with the officer posed a national security threat.
“A uniform is merely clothing; it does not confer superiority,” he said.
Falana also used the occasion to criticise former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to use force in Nigeria under the guise of protecting Christians, accusing him of hypocrisy.
“In the last five years, about 280,000 Americans have been killed by gunmen, including school children and worshippers. Trump cannot stop that because of the powerful influence of weapons manufacturers,” Falana said.
He urged Nigerian youths and lawyers to continue advocating for justice and the protection of human life.
“Are you prepared to go to arms to save the life of every Nigerian? The time is now,” he charged.
At the event, law students of the University of Abuja honoured Falana with the title of “Senior Advocate of the Masses” in recognition of his long-standing dedication to justice and public interest causes.
