Indications have emerged that Navy Lieutenant A. M. Yerima may not face disciplinary action over his confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during an enforcement visit to a disputed land in Abuja.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, had earlier stated that the Federal Government had initiated an investigation into the incident, but insisted that no military personnel acting under legitimate orders would be punished.

A senior official who spoke with Punch on condition of anonymity said, “The Nigerian Armed Forces operate strictly within the legal framework of the 1999 Constitution. Once troops are lawfully deployed under approved orders, their allegiance is to their operational command and the Constitution.”

The clarification followed intense criticism from former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), who publicly demanded that Wike apologise to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and the officer involved.

Buratai, in a Facebook post earlier in the week, described Wike’s conduct at the site as “inappropriate and disrespectful to the military,” adding that public humiliation of uniformed personnel sends the wrong signal.

Highly placed military officials, who spoke to our correspondent on Friday on condition of anonymity, ruled out any disciplinary action for Yerima.

One senior officer said the lieutenant’s conduct did not violate military regulations.

The officer stated, “He did what the military leadership instructed.

“The legality of military action is guided by orders, not optics. Once deployed, an officer’s duty is to protect life, maintain order, and uphold the Constitution within clearly defined rules of engagement.”

Another senior source cautioned against politicising military procedures.

“Political intrusion into that space, however well-intentioned, undermines not only command authority but also the delicate balance of Nigeria’s internal security framework,” he added.

Military insiders emphasised that the Armed Forces thrive on strict adherence to hierarchy and lawful directives, not public comparison of ranks.

“The military’s authority rests not on intimidation, but on discipline; not on display, but on duty,” one of the officers concluded.