Wike’s Conduct Against Naval Officer Is An Assault On National Symbol – Senior Lawyer, Kunle Edun Says

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Edun, on Wednesday described the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, toward Naval officer Lt. A.M. Yerima as an “assault” on the dignity and integrity of the legal profession.

This is contained in a statement he sent to Daily Post.

He noted that the Naval Officer has a right to initiate civil action against Wike for defamation and the unjustified public insult.

Edun said, “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.”

According to Edun, “Wike’s conduct was an assault on the dignity and nobility of the legal profession.”

He said, “In the recent Direction of the LPDC in the case of John Aikpokop-Martins v. Danladi Umar (former Chairman of the CCT), the LPDC held that it has jurisdiction to try any matter outside professional matters, where the legal Practitioner behaved in a manner that is unbecoming of a lawyer in a sane society. Publicly calling a military man a fool is a conduct unbecoming of a legal Practitioner.

“I have advocated and advised each NBA administration to consider setting up the office of a Prosecutor-General whose main duty would be to investigate and prosecute lawyers who violate our ethical Rules, without necessarily waiting for petitions.

“The young officer has a right to initiate civil action against Wike for defamation and the unjustified public insult. Wike insulted a national symbol, the military uniform.”