Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Publicity and Communication, Lere Olayinka, has clarified that former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo, did not hold any legal document proving ownership of a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
Olayinka made the statement on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’, following widespread attention after Tuesday’s confrontation between the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and a military officer attached to the former Naval Chief at the construction site.
“Now, let’s go back to how we got to that level. That land was allocated to a company in 2007, Santos Estate Limited, for park and recreation. The company did not do anything on the land because that place is a road corridor — you don’t build there,” Olayinka said.
He explained that in 2022, Santos Estate wrote to the FCT Minister requesting approval to convert the land from park to commercial use, though the request did not include permission for permanent structures.
“Probably in anticipation of the Minister’s approval, the man decided to partition the land and sold to people, including the former Chief of Naval Staff. He was scammed, he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of coming out to seek help, he resorted to (show of) military might,” Olayinka said.
“Now, the minister declined the request in 2022. That was where it ended. He has already sold the land to people, giving them impression that the land use was changed, Wike was not even the minister then,” Olayinka added.
He stressed that the land has been redesignated for corporate building purposes, not residential development, and that Vice Admiral Gambo has no valid land ownership documents.
“Who should the former Chief of Naval Staff go and hold, the company or the government? That particular land has been redesignated for corporate building, not residential. As of today, Vice Admiral Gambo does not have a document showing that he owns the land. He does not own the land,” Olayinka said.
The aide reminded Nigerians that proper procedures must be followed before beginning development on any land.
“Before you begin development of a land, there are processes you must follow. Number one is to have a building plan and take the building plan to the development control. Nigerians should ask him if he took his plan to the development control, and did development control receive the building plan,” Olayinka said.
He also referenced the original allocation letter as proof that the land was never intended for residential purposes.
“This is the letter with which the land was allocated to Santos Estate for park,” Olayinka stated.
