The Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has offered fresh details on the confrontation between Nyesom Wike and soldiers over a disputed massive size of land in Abuja, saying the incident stemmed from an illegal use conversion and a possible fraudulent land deal.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka alleged that a former Chief of Naval Staff had been deceived into buying land originally designated for park and recreational use.
He said instead of seeking administrative help to resolve the matter, the retired military officer chose to deploy soldiers to the site.
Dispute Over Land Meant for Public Use
According to Olayinka, the land in question, located in the Gaduwa District, was initially allocated in 2007 to Santos Estate Limited for park and recreation purposes.
“The company did not do anything on the land because that place is a road corridor — you don’t build there,” he said.
However, in 2022, Santos Estate reportedly sought permission from the FCT Development Authority to convert the land to commercial use.
Despite not receiving approval, Olayinka said the company began subdividing and selling portions of the land to unsuspecting buyers, including the former naval chief.
“The former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, and he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of coming forward to seek help, he resorted to using military might,” Olayinka said.
He maintained that the FCT Minister only visited the site to enforce proper land administration after consulting with the Chief of Defence Staff.
Wike Confronts Soldiers, Demands Accountability
A video of the altercation, which circulated widely online, shows Wike exchanging heated words with armed soldiers who had blocked officials of the FCT Administration from gaining access to the disputed property.
“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those you can intimidate,” Wike said during the confrontation.
He further questioned the officers’ authority to secure the land without documentation, declaring, “You have no document. We cannot continue this way. This country cannot go along this line.”
The minister’s entourage also condemned the soldiers’ behaviour, describing it as “unprofessional and unacceptable.”
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