Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has shed more light on the public spat between his cabinet colleague at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant Commander A.M Yerima, saying Wike disregarded the advice of some service chiefs and proceeded to confront the officer at a disputed property site in Abuja.
Matawalle stated that the naval officer acted strictly in accordance with instructions and displayed discipline and respect throughout the encounter.
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The explanation came hours after Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding officers of the armed forces while performing their lawful duties.
Badaru, who gave the assurance when he addressed a press conference in Abuja to officially flag off the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD), cautioned against actions that could undermine the authority, professionalism, or dignity of uniformed personnel in the discharge of their responsibilities.
His reaction followed a viral video showing Wike, verbally assaulting the naval officer on guard duty at a disputed estate land in Abuja.
But Wike, while reacting to the position of former army chief, General Tukur Buratai, said Buratai misconstrued the incident with Yerima as a threat to national security and a slight on the authority of President Bola Tinubu.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, also weighed in on the matter, describing it as an unfortunate development that raised deeper questions about public respect for state authority and national institutions.
However, lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, said both Wike and Yerima erred before the law.
But former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Anselm Odinkalu, criticised Wike, accusing him of acting outside the law in what he described as a recent forced entry into a private property.
Speaking in an interview on DCL Hausa, Matawalle described the incident as “unfortunate”.
He explained that Wike had earlier contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the issue before taking any action.
He added that when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) arrived at the location, the officer explained that he was simply carrying out orders.
Matawalle said the FCT minister should not have exchanged words with the officer, but ought to have channeled his concerns through the appropriate superior officers.
He stressed that the naval officer’s actions were lawful and professional, adding that he displayed the discipline, loyalty, and obedience expected of a trained military officer.
He said the young officer merely carried out his duty and deserved commendation.
Clarifying that the officer had not breached any military regulations, but conducted himself properly throughout the incident, Matawalle stated, “He committed no offence under military law; he obeyed a lawful order and followed due process. If you observe carefully, he spoke respectfully and behaved appropriately.”
He cautioned that government officials must show due respect to members of the armed forces, stating that any act of disrespect towards a uniformed officer indirectly undermines the authority of the president, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Matawalle stated, “There is no offence under military law for which the officer should be punished. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform he was wearing.
“Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the Commander-in-Chief. There is, therefore, no basis for any disciplinary action against the officer.”
Matawalle emphasised that his remarks were not intended to justify indiscipline within the military but to highlight the importance of adhering to established command procedures.
He explained, “This is not about encouraging the military to act disrespectfully towards civilians. However, the minister should understand that every officer has superiors. I understand that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for the outcome of an investigation.”