Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has assured that Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer who engaged in a heated exchange with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will not face any disciplinary action.
Matawalle gave the assurance in an interview with DCL Hausa following widespread speculation about possible sanctions after a video of the confrontation went viral on social media.
In the video, recorded during Wike’s visit to a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, the FCT minister was seen in a tense verbal exchange with the young naval officer, who stood his ground respectfully during the encounter. The minister was at Plot 1946 on Monday, where he accused soldiers of preventing officials from the FCT Department of Development Control from enforcing a stop-work order.
The land is allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd), and soldiers stationed at the site blocked the minister’s entry, prompting the confrontation. Wike later claimed that the developers lacked valid documents or legal approval for the construction.
Reacting to the incident, Matawalle said the matter should have been handled through proper channels rather than through a public altercation. “The minister should not have confronted him. Lieutenant Yerima was acting on orders. If Wike had any concerns, he should have spoken to his superiors or to me directly since I oversee naval affairs,” Matawalle said.
He commended Yerima’s composure during the exchange, describing his conduct as disciplined and professional. “You can clearly see that he was respectful while standing his ground. As far as we are concerned, he did not break any law or military regulation,” the minister added.
Matawalle also disclosed that the Chief of Naval Staff has commenced an investigation into the disputed land, while noting that no formal complaint has been received from the FCT minister. He added that the situation was avoidable, explaining that before Wike visited the site, he had already spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be looked into.
