No Minister Has Power to Call Any Nigerian a Fool; Lucky He Was Not Shot—Falana Tells Tinubu to Compel Wike to Apologise to Naval Officer

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has called on Bola Tinubu to compel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to apologise for reportedly using derogatory language against a serving naval officer, A. M. Yerima, during a dispute over a plot of land in Abuja.

Falana made the appeal on Thursday at the opening of the Legal Year at the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, an event organised by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), UNIABUJA Chapter. He described the incident as a “clear instance of both parties taking the law into their own hands.”

“On no ground should a Minister insult or abuse a citizen. No Minister has the power to call any Nigerian a fool. Mr. President should compel the Minister to apologise.

“He was lucky he was not shot,” Falana said, noting that Wike narrowly escaped serious harm during the encounter.

While acknowledging that Wike acted within his statutory authority under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, Falana criticised the Minister’s approach, saying it lacked emotional intelligence and decorum.

During the event, Falana also criticised the Federal Government’s reported plan to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu serve the remainder of his prison term in Nigeria following his conviction in the United Kingdom for organ trafficking.

READ ALSO: Wike’s Drama Is a Staged Distraction to Divert Attention from Genocide Campaign — Emir Sirdam

He questioned why the government showed concern for Ekweremadu but not the 232 other Nigerians currently serving sentences in Britain, saying, “I will take up this matter. The so-called prisoner exchange programme is questionable because there is no British citizen serving a prison term in Nigeria.”

On the theme of the event, “Litigation as the Bloodline of Justice: Building the Next Generation of Advocates,” Falana urged law students to embrace technology as courts across West Africa increasingly adopt virtual hearings and electronic filing systems.

He encouraged them to engage with national issues and promote justice and good governance, saying, “Students must be active participants in shaping our legal system and the nation’s future. Technology and advocacy go hand in hand in the modern era.”

The event also featured the conferment of the title “Senior Advocate of the Masses” on Falana, which he dedicated to indigent Nigerians, stating, “This title is for the millions of Nigerians who do not have access to justice. It is their struggle that I represent.”

Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, Dean of the Faculty of Law, commended LAWSAN for bridging legal theory and practice, saying, “This initiative allows students to engage with experienced practitioners and understand real-world legal dynamics. Discipline, integrity, and ethical standards are the backbone of our profession, and students must uphold them.”

Earlier, Abiola Akingbolu, President of LAWSAN, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to fostering intellectual growth and professional excellence, stating, “Mentorship remains key to grooming the next generation of advocates. Senior lawyers and institutions must continue to support student-led capacity-building initiatives.”