Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kunle Edun has condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, for publicly insulting a Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. AM Yerima, describing the act as an assault on the dignity and nobility of the legal profession.

In a statement to DAILY POST, Edun noted that the naval officer has the right to initiate civil action for defamation.

“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,” Edun said.

He stressed that Wike’s conduct violates professional ethics, citing the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) ruling in John Aikpokop-Martins v. Danladi Umar, which allows the body to investigate lawyers whose public actions are unbecoming of the profession.

“Publicly calling a military man a fool is a conduct unbecoming of a legal practitioner… Wike insulted a national symbol, the military uniform,” Edun added, emphasizing the officer’s right to seek legal redress.