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Matawalle: Wike Ignored Service Chiefs’ Advice on Disputed Land with Naval Officer

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has publicly accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of defying senior military counsel when confronting a naval officer at the heart of a land-dispute in Abuja.

According to Matawalle, Wike had previously contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), who advised him to allow an investigation before taking any direct action. Despite this, Wike went ahead and arrived at the disputed site in Gaduwa District, Abuja, confronting Lieutenant Commander Yerima — a naval officer stationed there under orders — and engaged in a heated verbal altercation.

Matawalle described the officer’s conduct as lawful and disciplined: the young officer was carrying out “a lawful order and following due process,” he said. The Defence Ministry has not received a formal complaint from Wike, though Matawalle personally phoned Wike when a video of the confrontation went viral.

The disputed land, Plot 1946 in Gaduwa, is said to belong to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo, and the FCT Administration claims it is illegally occupied. Wike accused the naval officer of acting under an illegal order, and argued that the ministerial role he held as FCT minister gave him authority to act—and faulted retired service chiefs for interfering.

In his comments, Matawalle emphasised that public officials must show respect to uniformed officers and adhere to chain of command, warning that disrespect towards an officer in uniform amounts to disrespect to the President, the Commander-in-Chief.

With the CNS now visiting the site to examine the land documentation and ownership claims, the dispute remains unresolved—though the clash has raised tensions between civilian political actors and the military.