Senior lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, has called for a thorough investigation into the recent clash between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a military officer, Lt. Yerima.
In a post on X on Friday, Agbakoba said the incident raises
serious questions about civilian authority over the military and the legality
of the land ownership at the centre of the dispute.
He noted that while the minister could have handled the
situation differently, the key issue is whether the military officer has a
valid land title.
Agbakoba questioned the legitimacy of the military’s claim
to the property and whether military directives can override civilian laws.
He also raised concerns about whether the officer might be
relying on military power rather than due process to assert control over the
land.
The senior lawyer said the issues surrounding the clash,
including compliance with land regulations and the boundaries of military
authority, require a comprehensive investigation.
He said: “The Wike Military issue is a complex one that
raises crucial questions about civilian control over the military. While
there’s no doubt that Minister @GovWike could have approached Lt. Yerima
differently, the core issue at hand is compliance with land title regulations.
“So I ask: aside from Wike’s alleged indiscretion, what
about the military’s claim to the land in question? Does Lt. Yerima actually
have legal title to it, or has he simply wielded military power to assert his
control? While it’s true that Lt. Yerima can invoke obedience to superior
orders to deny access to Wike, it begs the larger question: do military rules
operate separately from our civilian laws?
“I genuinely want to know if the General holds a legitimate
title to this land or if he is merely relying on military power. Can a
civilian, in this case, the minister, resist or evade compliance with those
military directives? This entire situation certainly warrants a thorough
investigation.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Agbakoba, you sound as if you are Wike ally which we know. You are always in the habit of speaking for the government in power, yet majority of you do not even know the letters of the law which you claim to be seniors on. Its a shame that a simple issue like this, small school children know the real issue more than this SAN. The likes of you should face mob action. Nonsense.
ReplyDelete