Wike acted within the law to inspect disputed land in FCT, says Falana

In the clips, Wike was seen stepping forward to calm the situation, separating his security aides from the soldiers as the confrontation intensified.

Addressing the officers on the scene, the FCT Minister demanded to examine the approval allegedly issued to the landowners.

But the naval officer who led the team insisted  that the landowner possessed valid documents for the property while he was obeying “the order from above”.

Speaking  at the University of Abuja on Thursday during an event by the Law students of the university, Falana condemned Wike’s public tongue-lashing of the officer, stressing that no public official has the authority to demean any Nigerian.

He said, “The President must direct the minister to apologise. That is what is done in civilised societies,” pointing to a similar incident in Ghana where a deputy minister was compelled to retract insulting comments.

Falana also faulted the military personnel who blocked the minister from accessing the property, describing their conduct as an unjustified intrusion into civilian matters.

The Senior Advocate noted that Section  11 of the Land Use Act grants the FCT minister and state governors undisputed powers to enter and inspect any land within their jurisdiction.

According to him, the junior naval officer who stopped Wike acted unlawfully, reportedly following “orders from above”.

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.”

Falana added that if the minister was obstructed, the appropriate response was to withdraw and seek legal remedy, such as petitioning the authorities or applying for 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.

Falana further dismissed arguments that insulting a uniformed officer constitutes a threat to national security, insisting that “a uniform is merely clothing” and does not place its wearer above other citizens.

The Senior Advocate also criticised United States President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention in Nigeria to protect Christians, contrasting it with America’s own epidemic of gun violence.

He said, “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 urged Nigerians—particularly young people and lawyers—to close ranks and demand that every Nigerian life be valued.
“Are you prepared to go to arms to save the life of every Nigerian? The time is now,” he said.

At the event, law students of the University of Abuja conferred on Falana the honorary title of “Senior Advocate of the Masses ” in recognition of his decades of activism and public-interest legal battles.