Lawyers have sharply criticized Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s dramatic confrontation with soldiers at a disputed Gaduwa District property, branding his approach as heavy-handed and a departure from due process, even as they affirm the illegality of unauthorized developments. The fiery Tuesday clash, which saw Wike verbally spar with military officers guarding the site, has exposed deep rifts in FCT land governance, with lawyers warning of systemic failures and calling for measured enforcement to uphold the rule of law.
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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dayo Akinlaja described the episode as a glaring symptom of broader dysfunction in Nigeria’s political landscape. “One thing is certain: the situation could have been better managed. This is one instance in which might has trumped officialdom. Apparently, we have not seen the end of the disturbing scenario,” Akinlaja said. While stressing that development control approval is mandatory before any property work commences, he faulted Wike’s tactics as falling short of professional standards.
Echoing this, Jibrin S. Jibrin, Esq., labeled the minister’s actions “improper, avoidable, and unnecessary,” arguing the matter could have been settled quietly through legal avenues. “For example, the law has ample provisions on how to address such matters. Following due process and the right processes would have resulted in the same being sorted out without the public spectacle,” Jibrin noted. He reiterated, however, that developers are legally bound to secure prior agency permissions, rendering unapproved work illegal.
Vincent Adodo, Esq., took a firmer stance against the soldiers’ role, deeming their blockade unlawful under Section 11 of the Land Use Act 1978. The provision grants the FCT Minister, functioning as the capital’s equivalent of a state governor, the right to inspect land under a Right of Occupancy at any reasonable hour of the day, with occupiers obligated to provide free access. “In this sense, the Governor is the Minister of the FCT and he acted within his powers by visiting to inspect the land,” Adodo asserted.
Adodo decried the incident as a dangerous challenge to authority, with ripple effects beyond the site. “What happened today in Gaduwa should not be encouraged. It looks like standing up to challenge authority, but if soldiers can prevent a Minister with security protection, you can imagine what court officers enforcing a court judgment might also be subjected to by the same military officers who always believe that they are above the law.” He demanded military disciplinary proceedings against the officer involved.
A more tempered perspective came from another senior lawyer, who acknowledged Wike’s regulatory powers under the Land Use Act but insisted on procedural safeguards. “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has powers to enforce regulations in the FCT, but generally, this is done within the bounds of the law and often requires court orders for enforcement, especially when it involves land acquisition, demolition, or other actions that impact citizens’ rights,” the lawyer explained.
Enforcement, per the 1978 Act, typically entails issuing notices, securing judicial backing as required, and respecting natural justice. “In specific cases, the Minister might act without a court order in emergencies or where empowered by law, but generally, actions are expected to align with the rule of law,” the lawyer added.
The lawyers’ critiques stem from a tense Tuesday showdown at the Gaduwa property, where Wike sought to inspect what the FCT Administration (FCTA) deems an “illegal construction.” Accompanied by his security detail, the minister arrived after FCTA Development Control officials were earlier rebuffed in a demolition bid by soldiers allegedly dispatched on orders from Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff.
Wike demanded access, but the troops, led by an officer invoking “strict orders from above,” held firm. Eyewitnesses described a volatile scene: Wike alighting from his vehicle, voice rising as he probed the order’s source, then barking, “Keep quiet!” The officer shot back, “Sir, you cannot tell me to keep quiet. I am a commissioned officer.” Undeterred, Wike retorted, “You’re a fool!” prompting the reply: “I am not a fool, sir, and you have no right to call me one.”
Fuming, Wike withdrew but confronted the press, decrying the military presence as “illegal” and an intimidation tactic. “It’s really unfortunate,” he said. “You heard what the officer said that he was sent by the former Chief of Naval Staff. I don’t understand how someone who once occupied such a high position cannot come to my office to resolve an issue but instead uses soldiers to intimidate people. I will not succumb to blackmail or intimidation.”
Wike disclosed reaching out to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff, who pledged resolution. He recommitted to impartial enforcement: “He [the former naval chief] will not carry out this illegal development simply because he was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I will not allow that.” Attempts to contact Retired Vice Admiral Ibas failed; he ignored calls and messages.
FCT Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, affirmed the site’s irregularities, noting it was not FCTA-allocated and missing key documents like building permits. “The land lacked, among other things, building approval and should not be developed,” Galadima said. Such approvals greenlight construction; their absence invites demolition under law, though not land revocation.
This aligns with Wike’s intensified oversight since 2023, enforcing urban planning amid Abuja’s sprawl.
The Gaduwa episode fits a pattern of high-stakes clashes in Wike’s administration, featuring demolitions, title revocations, and scrutiny of deals to combat unauthorized land acquisitions. Detractors allege land grabbing and caprice, claims the FCTA rejects. Disputes over ground rents persist, highlighted by Monday’s ₦5 million penalties for city-center breaches.
Post-incident, Wike doubled down: “We cannot continue to allow lawlessness to prevail in this country. What about those who don’t have the military or security to protect them? When government officials are carrying out their duties, some people think they can use force to intimidate them. I will not accept that.”
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