A lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has said that the land the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, wanted to take over leading to an altercation with Nigerian Navy officers, was acquired by a firm 15 years ago.
The lawyer, who said this in a video he released on Tuesday, also identified the Naval officer who led the others as A. M. Yerima.
Adeyanju commended Yerima for standing tall during the “intimidation” by Wike.
He said though the military should not be protecting the property of anyone, but when dealing with people like Wike, “who take the laws into their hands, who break the law at will,” things like that would continue to happen.
He accused the Minister of having taken over people’s lands to give to his children and friends.
He said the law is clear that you can only revoke land in overriding public interest and not to collect it from one person and hand over to the other.
Adeyanju said the company that was allocated the land Wike wanted to take over: Santos Properties, got allocation for 10 hectares of land in three places, amounting to 30 hectares.
He added: “They were the ones that cleared the land, compensated the natives around the place, put in all the facilities that the place now looks attractive.
“The place is far away in Gadua.”
He said a former Chief of Naval Staff, retired Vice Admiral Awl Zubairu Gamba, then approached Santos Properties for a part of the land for his wife to build an event centre, which was granted.
It was the land that Wike wanted to take over and demolish the structure on it.
Adeyanju added: “They even had meetings with the FCDA people.
“They even agreed to give the government eight hectares out of the 30 hectares so that they can just do their thing.
“Wike still refused and said he must take everything.
“How can you take everything when this land was given to them 15 years ago?
“They’ve paid all necessary dues.
“You just wake up one day su moto and say you want to revoke the land.
“And you are not revoking the land in overriding public interest.
“This place is a park.
“It was allocated for park.
“Wike has converted it now to residential.
“This is what he has been doing all over Abuja.
“This thing that he has been doing has economic and environmental impact and implication in the FCT.
“Today, many banks no longer accept title documents to give loan as collateral in banks because Wike has bastardised the issue of land.
“You can have a land today, and tomorrow Wike will come and revoke it.
“So which bank wants to take the risk?
“The reason why housing is very important is that housing is an economic tool for development.
“But Wike has abused all the processes and abused his office as FCT Minister.”
