Land dispute: Top FCTA officials tender apology to Wike over brawl with Navy officer

Top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have tendered an unreserved apology to the Minister, Nyesom Wike over his recent brawl with Navy Lieutenant AM Yerima in the Gaduwa area of Abuja on Tuesday, November 12.

Wike and Yerima had engaged in a heated verbal altercation over a piece of land owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo.

The minister’s aide, Lere Olayinka had on Wednesday stated that Gambo was scammed off the property by an Abuja-based estate development and had no legal backing to deploy the use of military officers led by Yerima to guard the property and prevent FCTA officials including Wike from gaining access to the land.

Reacting days after the incident, the staff of the administration on Thursday apologised to the minister over the controversial incident which had continued to make headlines.

The Department of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima who led the term said, “It is with a sense of commitment, emotion and regret that we address this press conference on the incident that happened on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Gaduwa District.”

Further giving insight into what led to the incident, Galadima said on October 17, FCTA staff on routine monitoring had spotted an ongoing development within the Southern Parkway.

According to him, when the officials made an inquiry over the activities of developers on the property by requesting approval status and documents, they were met with stiff resistance.

He added that after the back and forth with the site engineer a letter of intent issued in 2007 by the Department of Parks and Recreation was finally provided.

He added that the letter made available by the engineer was also not a formal approval.

“I said, as a lawyer, there is a clear difference between submission and approval, and you know it is illegal to commence development in the Federal Capital Territory without approval. He said he is aware, but the solution is in process. I said, then this development is illegal.

He added that he decided to call Wike’s attention to the danger and safety concerns the engagement caused for his team.

“We noticed the impending danger because armed men were strategically positioned, ready to shoot. And seeing this, I sent a distress call to the Honourable Minister.

“I want to sincerely apologise to the Honourable Minister for dragging him into this situation. I apologise to the Honourable Minister, indeed to all Nigerians for what happened,” Galadima stated.