From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has cleared Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, the naval officer involved in a tense face-off with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, affirming that he neither violated any law nor acted outside military protocol during the incident.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Wednesday dismissed calls for disciplinary action against the officer, describing the confrontation as “unnecessary and avoidable,” while commending Yerima for his professionalism and restraint.
The clash, which occurred on Tuesday at a disputed parcel of land in Abuja’s Gaduwa District, involved Wike confronting Yerima and a team of armed naval personnel guarding property reportedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
A viral video of the incident has since ignited public debate over ministerial authority, protocol, and civility.
In the footage, Wike accused the retired naval chief of unlawfully seizing the land and scolded the officer for allegedly obstructing an FCT Department of Development Control operation. Yerima, however, calmly stated he was merely following orders from his superiors.
In an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle said the altercation could have been avoided if proper administrative channels were observed.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. The officer explained that he was simply obeying lawful orders. Wike should have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors rather than engaging directly,” he said.
The minister noted that Yerima’s composure under pressure reflected military discipline, emphasizing that the officer acted within lawful orders.
“He is trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient. The young officer simply carried out his duty and should be commended,” Matawalle said.
According to the Defence Minister, Yerima’s conduct did not breach any military code or ethics.
“He did not commit any offence under military regulations; he merely followed lawful instructions. If observed carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly,” Matawalle said.
The minister also warned public officials against actions that could undermine military authority or embarrass uniformed personnel carrying out lawful duties.
“Disrespecting a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is no basis for any punishment against the officer,” he added.
Matawalle clarified that his comments were not an endorsement of military misconduct but a call for adherence to due process and inter-ministerial respect.
“This is not about supporting disrespect toward civilians. Every officer has superiors, and the Minister should have communicated through the proper chain of command,” he said.
He revealed that Wike had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff over the matter but proceeded to the site despite being advised to wait for the outcome of an inquiry.
“He ought to have exercised patience and awaited the investigation,” Matawalle said.
The Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed site to commence a formal inquiry into the property’s ownership.
“Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area, the matter will be investigated to determine who holds legitimate documents,” he said.
The minister further urged that all land revocations or reallocations within the FCT follow established administrative procedures rather than public confrontations.
“If the land has been revoked, there are official processes to be followed,” he added.
Matawalle also disclosed that, while the Defence Ministry had not received a formal complaint from the FCT Minister, he personally reached out to Wike following the viral video.
“I called him after the incident to advise that he should have spoken with me first before going there, instead of confronting the officers directly,” he said.
