Asari Dokubo Calls for Court-Martial of Naval Officer Over Clash With Wike

…says no military man is above the constitution

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has condemned the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a senior Naval officer over a disputed piece of land in Abuja, describing the officer’s conduct as “a gross act of indiscipline” that deserves a court-martial.

The altercation reportedly occurred when the officer, who claimed to be acting on the orders of the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd), prevented Wike and officials of the FCT Administration from gaining access to a contested property site. The situation quickly escalated into a heated verbal exchange between the minister and the military personnel.

Reacting in a video shared on Facebook on Wednesday, Asari Dokubo strongly condemned the incident, insisting that the officer involved should be reprimanded and court-martialled by the relevant authorities.

“I’m not taking sides with Wike, I’m taking sides with the law, the rule, and the convention,” Asari said. “What happened yesterday—in any sane society—that person would be reprimanded and detained. The confrontation with the Minister of FCT is uncalled for.”

He emphasized that as Minister, Wike constitutionally serves as the Governor and Chief Security Officer of the FCT, next only to the President, and should be accorded due respect by all security agencies.

“The Minister is the governor of the FCT and constitutionally, he is the chief security officer outside the president of the city of Abuja,” Asari explained. “I might not like Wike, our relationship has had its ups and downs, but in any sane society, that fellow ought to have been court-martialled. It can’t happen anywhere outside Nigeria.”

Asari further condemned the officer’s attempt to obstruct government enforcement activities, stressing that no one—civilian or military—is above the law.

“There is law in Abuja, and nobody has the right to go and develop a piece of property without following the laid-down rules and regulations,” he said. “A military man is subject to the constitution; he is not above it.”

Defending Wike’s decision to personally visit the disputed site, Asari noted that the minister was only performing his duty as the chief executive officer of the FCT.

“If Wike himself did not go there, people would say government officials don’t take their work seriously,” he stated. “In an executive system of government, the buck stops at the table of the executive officer. I didn’t see anything wrong in the Minister going there. Nobody should accept that sort of affront from someone who by law ought to see you as his superior.”