Fresh revelations have surfaced regarding the disputed land that sparked Tuesday’s confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and military officers who blocked him and his team from accessing a site in Gudu District, Abuja.
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According to SaharaReporters, a legal practitioner directly involved in the case disclosed that the 30-hectare parcel of land in question was originally allocated to serving and retired military personnel before it was revoked and reallocated by the FCT Minister.
The lawyer alleged that the land was redistributed to Wike’s political allies, including a top associate said to be the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Sam Amupitan.
“Wike revoked the land which totals 30 hectares and allocated it to some persons, one of whom we were told in confidence is the current INEC Chairman,” the source claimed. “Unfortunately for Wike, a former naval chief, Awwal Gambo, and some serving army personnel have vested interests in the land and have partly developed it.”
The source further stated that the revocation and redistribution were carried out “in total disregard of due process, official recommendations, and existing approvals.”
He alleged that the disputed land, initially designated for park and recreation use, was unlawfully converted to a “multi-purpose” area, with fresh Rights of Occupancy (RofO) issued to new beneficiaries.
Supporting documents cited include a letter dated May 17, 2022, from the Director of Parks & Recreation Department, Hajiya Riskatu Abdulazeez, which confirmed that the 31-hectare Green Area Plot 1946, CZ B13, Gaduwa, was originally subdivided in 2007 and committed to various organizations such as Santos Estates Limited, Curio International Ventures, Curio Communications Limited, Mozad Ventures Limited, and Decency Hotels Limited.
“Approval was sought since 2014 but was ignored, even where there was a memo recommending approval,” the lawyer added. “Wike ignored these memos, changed the land use from park/recreation to multi-purpose, and issued fresh RofO to some powerful private individuals.”
The dispute escalated when Wike, reportedly accompanied by about 50 armed police officers and two bulldozers, stormed the site to reclaim and demolish structures allegedly developed by military allottees.
“Capt. Adam Yariman is the officer Wike was insulting in that viral video,” the source told SaharaReporters. “I was with him when we received information that Wike had gone to the site with armed personnel and bulldozers to demolish and dispossess the owners.”
The lawyer further disclosed that the Nigerian Army had challenged Wike to take the matter to court, but the minister allegedly declined.
“The Army has challenged Wike to go to court, but he has refused to do so, apparently because he knows he’s wrong,” he said, adding that Wike often dismisses landowners’ grievances by telling them to ‘go to court’, even while ignoring existing legal actions and administrative reviews.
A viral video of the confrontation, shows the minister in a heated exchange with a military officer who refused to step aside, insisting that the soldiers were acting on official orders.
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