Abuja Land Clash: Gambo Was Scammed, Says Wike’s Spokesman

The Senior Special Assistant on Publicity to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has defended his boss over Tuesday’s confrontation with a naval officer in Abuja, saying it stemmed from a land scam involving a retired naval chief.

Speaking on Channels TV, Olayinka said the disputed Mabushi plot was allocated in 2007 for park and recreation, not residential use. He explained that the original allottee, Santos Estate Limited, illegally partitioned and sold the land, including to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.) after its request to convert the land to commercial use was denied in 2022.

Olayinka said Gambo was “scammed” but chose to use military influence instead of legal channels.

He added that the ex-naval chief had no valid title or building plan approved by the FCT Development Control.

The remarks follow a viral video showing Wike confronting naval officers guarding the contested property, sparking debate over land administration and military interference in civil matters.