- Safiu Kehinde
Lere Olayinka, the spokesperson to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has explained reason behind the minister ordered the stoppage of construction on land owned by former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Rtd).
This is coming hours after Wike stormed the land located in Mabushi area of the FCT.
NPO Reported that a tense drama had ensued at the site as the Minister and the FCT Administration officials were denied access to the land by Naval officers.
This led to clash and verbal altercation between Wike and the leader of the military personnel.
Reacting to the development which had since sparked mixed reactions, Olayinka disclosed that the ex- Naval chief was scammed as the disputed land was fraudulent sold to him by a company.
Lere made the disclosure while speaking on Channels TV Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday.
The aide to the FCT Minister how the land was in 2007 allocated to a company named Santos Estate Limited.
According to Olayinka, the land was allocated to company for construction of Park and Recreation.
It would however request the conversion of the land’s purpose to commercial in 2022 which was rejected by the then FCTA Administration.
Meanwhile, the company had reportedly gone ahead to partition the land and sell while waiting for approval of the conversion.
“That particular 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 walkway. It is a road corridor. You don’t build there.
“Then in 2022, the company wrote to the FCTA, that ‘Oh I want approval from you to convert the purpose to commercial.’
“Probably in anticipation for the Minister’s approval for conversion, the man decided to partition the land allocated to him for park and recreation.
“He partitioned the land and sold to people, including the former Chief of Naval Staff. And that is why I want to state here that the Chief of Naval Staff was scammed.
“And he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of him to now come out and seek help, he resorted to the use of military might.
“In 2022, the Minister of the FCT declined that request. He did not grant the request for change of land use made by that company.
“That it is where it ended but he had already sold the land to people, probably giving them the impression that the land use will change.
“Wike was not the Minister then. Now after selling land allocated to you for park and recreation for people to build house.
“Who should the former Chief of Naval Staff go and hold? The person who scammed him or the government?
“He chose not to hold the company who scammed him.” Olayinka said.
The FCT Minister’s aide further disclosed that the said land had since been designated as purpose of public building which implied that no residential apartment will be permitted there.
“Now again, that particular portion has now been redesignated for the purpose of public buildings and corporate buildings not residential.
“Meaning that you cannot build residential house there. That is one. So, as at today, Vice Admiral Gambo does not have a title document showing that he owns the land. He does not own the land.” He said while noting that a building plan would have also been asked if the Gambo had confirmed having titled document.
“Now assuming that we are now considering that he has title document and he owns the land, before you begin development of a land, there are processes you must pass through.
“One of such process is to have a building plan showing what you want to compute on the land. And you take your building plan to the development control.
“The question Nigerians should ask Vice Admiral Gambo is did he take his building plan on that land to the development control? And did the development control approved the building plan?” Olayinka said.