How FCT minister Wike revoked 30 hectares of land owned by top military officers, reallocated them to associates… –Report

Fresh details have emerged on the land dispute that triggered Tuesday’s confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and soldiers who stopped him and his officials from entering a property in Gudu district, Abuja.

A legal practitioner involved in the case explained that the disputed 30-hectare land was initially allocated to serving and retired military personnel but was later revoked by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The same land was reportedly reallocated to Wike’s political associates, including a top ally alleged to be the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan.

The source stated that the revocation and redistribution were carried out “in total disregard of due process, official recommendations, and existing approvals.”

“I am personally involved as a lawyer in this matter and several other cases of revocation and reallocation of land to private persons by Wike,” the source said.

“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. Unfortunately for Wike, a former naval chief (Awwal Gambo) and some serving army personnel have vested interests in the land and have partly developed the same,” the source added.

The lawyer claimed that the land was originally designated as park and recreation area, but Wike allegedly “changed the land use to multi-purpose” and issued fresh Rights of Occupancy (RofO) to new beneficiaries.

In a letter dated 17th May 2022, addressed to the MD/CEO, Santos Estate Limited, Hajiya Riskatu Abdulazeez, Director of Parks & Recreation Department, stated that the development, management, and operation of ideal recreational parks, especially on large green areas, require huge financial investment, and the FCTA policy is centered on collaboration with private organisations. The letter further outlined that Green Area Plot 1946, CZ B13, Gaduwa, is approximately 31 hectares, part of the Parkway System within Gaduwa District, and had been sub-divided into lots committed to various organisations, including Santos Estates Limited, Curio International Ventures, Curio Communications Limited, Mozad Ventures Limited, and Decency Hotels Limited.

The lawyer continued that approval had been sought since 2014 but was ignored, even where a memo recommending approval existed. Wike allegedly ignored the memos, changed the land use from park/recreation to multi-purpose, and issued fresh RofO to some private persons.

The dispute reportedly escalated when Wike, accompanied by about 50 armed police officers and two bulldozers, went to the estate site in an attempt to reclaim and demolish structures already built by military allottees.

“Capt. Adam Yariman is the officer Wike is insulting in that video,” the lawyer stated.

“I was with him when we received information that Wike had gone to the site with 50 personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and two bulldozers to demolish and dispossess the owners,” he added.

The lawyer noted that the Nigerian Army had challenged Wike to go to court, but the minister allegedly refused.

“The Army has challenged Wike to go to court but he has refused to do so, apparently because he knows he’s wrong,” the source said.

The lawyer also accused Wike of telling aggrieved landowners to “go to court” whenever confronted, despite ignoring existing court processes and administrative reviews.

The confrontation between the minister and the military officers was captured in a viral video obtained by SaharaReporters, showing Wike in a heated argument with an army officer who refused to yield ground.

CC: Saharareporter