The Senior Special Assistant on Publicity and Communications to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Lere Olayinka, has clarified that the recent altercation between Nyesom Wike and a naval officer in Abuja stemmed from a land scam that misled a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.)
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, Olayinka said the disputed land, located in the Mabushi area of Abuja, was initially designated for park and recreation purposes and not for residential or commercial use.
“That particular land was allocated to a company, Santos Estate Limited, in 2007 for park and recreation,” Olayinka explained.
“The company did not develop the land because it’s a parkway—a road corridor. You don’t build houses there.”
He disclosed that in 2022, Santos Estate Limited applied to the FCT Administration for a change of land use from park to commercial, but the request was rejected.
“In 2022, the minister of FCT declined that request,” he said. “Wike was not the minister then.”
According to Olayinka, despite the rejection, the company went ahead to illegally partition the land and sell portions to private individuals, including the retired naval chief.
“Probably anticipating that approval would be granted, the company began selling parts of the land,” he said. “Unfortunately, Vice Admiral Gambo bought one of those portions.”
The aide alleged that instead of seeking redress, the former naval chief attempted to use military influence to claim ownership of the land.
“I want to say that the Chief of Naval Staff was scammed. He has realised that he was scammed. But rather than seek redress, he resorted to the use of military might,” Olayinka said.
He further noted that the land lies within an area reserved for public and corporate institutions, not residential buildings.
“If you know Mabushi well, that corridor is for public and corporate buildings,” he said. “Vice Admiral Gambo does not have a title document or an approved building plan for the land.”
Olayinka added that any legitimate developer must follow due process, including obtaining approval from the Development Control Department.
“Before you build on any land in the FCT, you must have an approved building plan. Nigerians should ask Vice Admiral Gambo—did he take his plan to Development Control? Was it approved?”
His comments come amid public debate following a viral video showing Minister Wike in a heated exchange with naval officers guarding a disputed property reportedly linked to the retired officer..
