The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has declared that Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer seen in a viral video having a heated exchange with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, did not break any law.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, as reported by LEADERSHIP, Matawalle assured that the officer will not face any disciplinary action, noting that the Lieutenant was respectful when speaking with Wike. This assurance follows concerns reported by DAILY POST regarding possible sanctions against Lieutenant Yerima after the video of the confrontation became public on Tuesday.
The confrontation occurred when Wike visited a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, allegedly belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd), but was stopped by the naval officer.
Addressing the incident, Matawalle stated that the situation could have been avoided if handled through proper channels. “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.
The Minister praised Yerima’s composure during the exchange, describing his behavior as disciplined and professional. He confirmed, “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.” Matawalle concluded by noting that the entire situation was avoidable, especially since “Before the minister went there, 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.”
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