The Senior Special Assistant on Publicity and Communications to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has defended his principal over Tuesday’s heated confrontation with a naval officer in Abuja, describing the incident as a fallout of a fraudulent land transaction that deceived a retired naval chief.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, Olayinka clarified that the disputed land in Mabushi was never intended for private development.
He explained that it was originally designated for “park and recreation” purposes in 2007 when it was first allocated to a company known as Santos Estate Limited.
“That particular land was meant for public use, a parkway and a road corridor, not a place for residential or commercial buildings,” Olayinka stated.
He revealed that in 2022, the company sought to change the land’s designated use from park to commercial, but the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) rejected the application.
According to him, Wike was not yet the minister at the time the request was made.
“Even after the FCTA turned down the company’s request, the firm went ahead to divide the land illegally and sell portions to private buyers, including a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd),” Olayinka explained.
He alleged that the former naval chief may have purchased the land in anticipation of an approval that never came.
“Unfortunately, instead of holding the company responsible for the fraudulent sale, the retired admiral resorted to using his military background to lay claim to the property,” he said.
The minister’s aide insisted that Gambo’s supposed ownership claim has no legal backing, stressing that he neither possesses a valid title document nor an approved building plan for the land.
“As of today, Vice Admiral Gambo has no title document to that land. Even if, hypothetically, he had one, he still would have been required to obtain a building plan approved by the Development Control Department before commencing construction,” Olayinka added.
He further noted that the Mabushi area where the property is located has been zoned strictly for public and corporate use, not for private housing.
“That location is close to ministries and corporate establishments. It was never meant for residential development,” he said.
Olayinka argued that the confrontation between Wike and naval personnel guarding the disputed property stemmed from the minister’s insistence on enforcing Abuja’s master plan and preventing illegal encroachment.
“What we witnessed was a reflection of how fraudulent land dealings often mislead unsuspecting buyers, even high-ranking officials,” he said.
The incident, which was captured in a viral video, has since triggered a wave of reactions across the country, reigniting discussions on land management, the rule of law, and the growing tension between civil authorities and military personnel in the Federal Capital Territory.