Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified the events surrounding the minister’s recent altercation with a group of soldiers in Abuja.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka said the incident stemmed from a disputed land transaction involving a former Chief of Naval Staff, who, he claimed, was deceived in a fraudulent land deal.
According to Olayinka, the land in question was originally allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 for park and recreational purposes. The company, however, allegedly failed to develop the site because it lies within a road corridor, where construction is prohibited.
“That particular land was allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 for park and recreation. The company did nothing on the land because that area is a road corridor, you don’t build there,” Olayinka explained.
He added that in 2022, the company sought approval from the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCTDA) to convert the land for commercial use. Before any official approval was granted, Olayinka alleged, the company began subdividing and selling parcels of the land, one of which was reportedly purchased by the former Naval Chief.
“The former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, and he has realised that he was scammed,” Olayinka said. “Instead of coming forward to seek help, he resorted to using military might.”
The altercation
Reports from The Telegraph indicated that a confrontation occurred on Tuesday in the Gaduwa District of Abuja when Wike and his entourage attempted to access the disputed property and were stopped by soldiers allegedly guarding the site.
Tensions rose as members of the minister’s team accused the soldiers of unprofessional conduct.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” one official accompanying Wike was heard saying during the confrontation.
Visibly angered by the standoff, Wike questioned the soldiers’ actions and insisted that no one is above the law.
“You have no document,” the minister told the officers, who maintained they were acting on instructions.
“We cannot continue to act with impunity. You cannot be higher than the government or use guns to intimidate people. I am not one of those who can be intimidated,” Wike said.
As of the time of filing this report, the former Chief of Naval Staff had not publicly commented on the matter. Soldiers at the scene reportedly claimed that the retired officer possessed valid documents for the land.
The Nigerian military has also yet to issue an official statement regarding the altercation between its personnel and the FCT minister.
