A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Kunle Edun, has criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, over his public confrontation with Naval officer Lt. AM Yerima. Edun described Wike’s conduct as an “assault” on both the dignity of the legal profession and the respect due to Nigeria’s military.

In a statement to DAILY POST, Edun emphasized that the Naval officer has the right to pursue civil action against Wike for defamation and public insult. “A life Bencher, a lawyer calling a military officer dressed in the Nigerian Navy uniform a fool… I cannot believe it. Not even a little respect for the uniform,” he said.

Edun further explained that Wike’s actions undermined the nobility of the legal profession. He referenced a recent ruling in John Aikpokop-Martins v. Danladi Umar, where the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) held that it has jurisdiction over conduct outside strictly professional matters, particularly behavior unbecoming of a lawyer in society.

He stressed, “Publicly calling a military man a fool is conduct unbecoming of a legal practitioner. The young officer has a right to initiate civil action for defamation and the unjustified public insult. Wike insulted a national symbol, the military uniform.”

Edun also called for the establishment of an office of a Prosecutor-General within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to proactively investigate and prosecute lawyers who violate ethical rules, without necessarily waiting for petitions.

The senior lawyer’s statement highlights the importance of respecting national symbols and upholding ethical standards in the legal profession.