Following insinuations in certain quarters that the Naval officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, who denied the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike entry into a disputed plot of land at the Gaduwa district of Abuja, is the son of a retired Army spokesperson and was on an illegal duty, checks have however rubbished such claims.
The altercation between Wike and L Yerima sparked widespread speculation, with many posts linking the officer to retired Brigadier-General Mohammed M. Yerima, former spokesperson of the Nigerian Army.
Many posts on the social media had clamed that the young Naval officer was the son of retired Brigadier-General Mohammed M. Yerima, just as they questioned the legality of the officer’s presence at the scene, alleging he was on unauthorised duty.
But checks by PRNigeria based on official service records and credible sources, indicated that there was no evidence whatsoever of any family relationship between Lt. A.M. Yerima and Brig.-Gen. Yerima (retd).
While both officers hail from Yobe State, they are however from different local government areas as records clearly showed that Brig.-Gen. Yerima (retd) is from Bade Local Government Area and Lt. Yerima from Fune Local Government Area.
Navy Lt. Yerima’s parents, Alhaji Abdullahi Adam Yarima and Hajiya Hajara Yarima, both of whom were civilians, are deceased while Brig-General Yerima is alive and currently engaged in agriculture and private business.
Born on February 8, 1993, Lt. Yerima was raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Minister Wike served as Governor from 2015 to 2023.
Further checks by PRNigeria revealed that Lt. Yerima attended several schools in the city, including Sovina Model Schools, Evangel Academy, Treasure Memorial Schools, and Victory Comprehensive College before gaining admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 64 Regular Course and was commissioned on September 22, 2017. He rose through the ranks from Midshipman in September 2016 to Sub-Lieutenant in September 2017, and to Lieutenant in September 2022.
As at the time of the incident, Lt. Yerima was serving as a security officer attached to Vice-Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, who served from January 29, 2021, to June 23, 2023.
Under Nigerian military regulations, retired Service Chiefs are entitled to retain security aides and orderlies as part of their post-retirement benefits. These provisions are covered under the Military Pensions Act, Defence Headquarters regulations, and presidential or ministerial approvals.
A senior military official who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that such assignments are not personal favours but formal, regulated responsibilities.
According to the officer; “Once an officer is officially assigned to a principal—whether serving or retired—that becomes an authorised deployment. Any instructions received within that assigned capacity are binding and lawful. Protecting the principal’s interests is part of the officer’s duty”.
The source further said that statements from defence and security leaders have affirmed that the officer was acting within his official mandate.
Accordingly, PRNigeria Factcheck concluded that the claim that Lt. A.M. Yerima is related to Brig-Gen. Mohammed M. Yerima is false and appears to be based solely on a surname similarity.
Additionally, Lt. Yerima’s presence at the land in dispute while serving as Security officer to a retired Naval Chief of Staff was legitimate and in accordance with military regulations.
The Factcheck report: “Fact-Check: Is Lt. A.M. Yerima Related to Brig.-Gen. Yerima, and Was His Encounter with Minister Wike Unauthorised?”
