₦airaland Forum

Falana: Wike acted within his rights to inspect disputed land — military officers overstepped their authority

Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), was within his legal rights to inspect a disputed land in Abuja.

On Tuesday, viral videos showed Wike being stopped by military personnel from accessing the site, sparking a heated argument with an officer.

In the footage, Wike was seen stepping in to defuse the situation, separating his security detail from the soldiers as tensions escalated.

Speaking with the officers, the minister demanded to see the approval granted to the owners of the land. A soldier, who led the group, told Wike that his men were not intimidating anyone, stating that the landowner had all the necessary documents.

Speaking at an event at the University of Abuja on Thursday, Falana condemned the minister’s public insult of the military officer, saying no public official has the right to ridicule any Nigerian.

“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 compelled to withdraw offensive remarks.

Falana criticised the military officers who prevented the minister from carrying out his statutory duty, describing their actions as an overreach of authority.

He recalled that 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.

The human right activist said the military officer who stopped Wike was acting illegally, reportedly on orders from above.

“The minister was performing his statutory duty. Any occupier of land must allow the minister or governor to enter and inspect the property,” Falana said.

He added that if the minister was prevented from performing his duty, the proper course of action would have been to withdraw and seek redress through legal channels, such as filing a petition or obtaining 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 dismissed claims that insulting a military officer in uniform constitutes a threat to national security, emphasising that a uniform is merely clothing and does not confer superiority.

The senior lawyer also criticised US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria to protect Christians, highlighting America’s own struggles with gun violence.

“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,” he said.

He urged Nigerians, especially the youth and lawyers, to unite and insist that every Nigerian’s life matters.

“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 the honorary title of “senior advocate of the masses” on Falana in recognition of his decades-long commitment to justice and public interest litigation.

https://www.thecable.ng/falana-wike-acted-within-his-rights-to-inspect-disputed-land-military-officers-overstepped-their-authority/

Nlfpmod

This one has come with his own.
Did Wike go there to inspect the land or to enforce a stop work order?

Slytiger:
Falana: Wike acted within his rights to inspect disputed land — military officers overstepped their authority


https://www.thecable.ng/falana-wike-acted-within-his-rights-to-inspect-disputed-land-military-officers-overstepped-their-authority/

Nlfpmod

Nigerians are TOO SIMPLE minded to comprehend complicated issues like this.

Exactly my point. This is a balanced evaluation; one not obidient-hate inspired!

The minister was performing his statutory duty. Any occupier of land must allow the minister or governor to enter and inspect the property, Falana said.

You mean I should allow Omonile of FCT a.k.a Abuja landlord into my house .
Wetin dey worry this agbádorianss SAN

That's the fact and that's my stand but delusional emotional Nigerians just like to support nonsense all in the name of "We don't like Wike". These precedence you are supporting will definitely have a bitter end that all of you including those supporting this impunity in a democratic setting would suffer for.

That was my position all through the debate over the land matter.

This is coming from one of the best lawyer in Nigeria. All the emotion induced opinions can now be thrashed into the dustbin

The soldier would get away with it because he is Fulani - the kings and lords of Northern Nigeria.

If the roles were reversed I.e. The soldier is from the South and the Minister was Fulani or Aristocrat Hausa, that southern soldier would spend a long time in guard room before being discharged or shipped off to Lake Chad or Sambisa forest to face terrorist.

Wike should stop feeling like an emperor, he is not one.

When a sane, informed and honest person is talking you will know.

When someone driven by sentiments, hate for a person, crowd mentality and ignorance is talking, it will also be very obvious.

The sagacious ones understand my point at one glance. The people with low IQ will still want to argue with their ancestors.

The genocide against wike must be checked, wike should revoke the papers if he is right.....

Ttalk:
That was my position all through the debate over the land matter.

This is coming from one of the best lawyer in Nigeria. All the emotion induced opinions can now be thrashed into the dustbin

The same lawyer that say no gov or ministers has power to demolish building.

Have you ever asked yourself, what is Wike doing with bulldozers and several security men?

Is that the way to inspect?

Meanwhile, if you want to inspect and they block the place, is your constitution gives Wike an enforcer of law?

You people are backing Wike as if you don't know is gimmick and manipulation to claim right and have his way at all times.

Isn't Wike who is in PDP and openly campaigns for Tinubu, yet claiming to work for progress of PDP? How would such scenarios work together if PDP also planning to field candidate in 2027?

Pls be endeavour to add 1 + 1 to know if it's 2 or 11, atimes 1+1 maybe 11 or even 1 ok. (That is what they call common sense)

Goodvibes007:
The soldier would get away with it because he is Fulani - the kings and lords of Northern Nigeria.

If the roles were reversed I.e. The soldier is from the South and the Minister was Fulani or Aristocrat Hausa, that southern soldier would spend a long time in guard room before being discharged or shipped off to Lake Chad or Sambisa forest to face terrorist.

Abi oo, you must look it with lens of ethnicity or religion, since you have been humbled, instead for you to admit you wrong in your opinion.
I guess Gen Irabor is also Hausa, go and read his comments.

BECAUSE WE ARE IN DEMOCRACY, ANYBODY CAN JUST GIVE YOU ORDERS AND YOU MUST OBEY, EVEN THE PRESIDENT CANNOT GIVE DIRECT OTHER TO ANY STATE COMMISSIONER, WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH HIS STATE GOV.

Make una allow the matter to rest

Lol... They know wike doesn't obey court orders and he have those guys in his pocket.

They knowing that going to court is a waste of time so they decide to show force.
The bulldozer have been removed, case have been settled, no wahala.

What the SAN is saying is right if and only if everyone obeys and act within the constitution. Wike is a strong breaker of the constitution, he didn't come to equity with clean hands and shouldn't cry when he becomes a victim of the same thing . Will he even allow the governor of Rivers state who also has the power to inspect any land, to inspect his land?

Slytiger:
Falana: Wike acted within his rights to inspect disputed land — military officers overstepped their authority


https://www.thecable.ng/falana-wike-acted-within-his-rights-to-inspect-disputed-land-military-officers-overstepped-their-authority/

Nlfpmod

Yoruba People will always support Wike. They see Wike like one god

But Nigerians stand with gallant Lt Yarima

Calling an officer a fool is his rights too abi

Yoruba atimes eeehhh

overall90:
This one has come with his own.
Did Wike go there to inspect the land or to enforce a stop work order?

+
The whole world knows he was there on a corrupt land grab mission.

Gotocourt:
The minister was performing his statutory duty. Any occupier of land must allow the minister or governor to enter and inspect the property, Falana said.

You mean I should allow Omonile of FCT a.k.a Abuja landlord into my house .
Wetin dey worry this agbádorianss SAN

That's the position of the law whether one likes it or not.

Akwamkpuruamu:
Calling an officer a fool is his rights too abi

Yoruba atimes eeehhh

didn't you see he address that one also....

It's been determined by residents in Abuja that since wike assumed office, he has been grabbing lands for his own personal needs ... wike controls the courts in Abuja...so going to court is useless ...nobody be fool ooo...unless u no get connection, u can't take someone's land just because the person failed to register, we know the bottlenecks in trying to register land in Nigeria, they will frustrate the hell out of u.... the military knows this, that's why they decided to take matters in their own hands ...this is what happens when the courts that's meant to be the hope for injustice are bought over by politicians...the people will loose faith in the courts and anarchy will be next ... wike wan use magomago collect soldier land , soldier sef use magomago protect e land ....

Some Nigerians really surprised me with the way they took sides with the military throughout this saga. Abi no be dis Nigeria we dey again? No be the same Nigeria military? Time will soon come, and when it is time, we shall remind them.

The public insults by Wike is highly uncalled for though..

Fiscus105:
The same lawyer that say no gov or ministers has power to demolish building.

Have you ever asked yourself, what is Wike doing with bulldozers and several security men?

Is that the way to inspect?

Meanwhile, if you want to inspect and they block the place, is your constitution gives Wike to be an enforcer of law?

You people are backing Wike as if you don't know is gimmick and manipulation to claim right and have his way at all times.

Is he not Wike who is in PDP and openly campaigns for Tinubu, yet claiming to work for progress of PDP? How would such scenario work together if PDP also planning to field candidate in 2027?

Pls be endeavour to add 1 + 1 to know if it's 2 or 11, atimes 1+1 maybe 11 or even 1 ok. ( That is what they call common sense)

Don't be surprise he is siding the tyrant. He is a lawyer and has gained alot from him

This one still dey talk? Na now him day break

Oga Falana...
it is not about what Wike did.
It is about HOW HE DID IT.

Typing:
Yoruba People will always support Wike. They see Wike like one god

But Nigerians stand with gallant Lt Yarima

Why una like to think say na every suppt tinubu? Am yoruba n dey in support of yerima

oz4real83:
What the SAN is saying is right if and only if everyone obeys and act within the constitution. Wike is a strong breaker of the constitution, he didn't come to equity with clean hands and shouldn't cry when he becomes a victim of the same thing . Will he even allow the governor of Rivers state who also has the power to inspect any land, to inspect his land?

He’s talking from both sides of his mouth. More like an hypocrite!

This Mr Falana just dey confuse himself and some uniformed individuals.

He already said Wike should have approached a court if there is a challenge to his authority so there is no need for all these other English

Falana drop the ball when he said a military uniform is just a mere clothing

He spoke well. Wike for no insult the junior officer. It was wrong to insult the junior officer..

But stopping Wike based on one order from a former CNS is totally wrong too..

Both sides are wrong..

APC lawyer has spoken.

All of you can go ...

Will yarimo agree with Falana the rivers court lawyer?