- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, of demolishing people’s houses despite ongoing cases in court.
Adeyanju made the allegation against Wike while reacting to the minister’s viral clash with Naval officers at a landed property which belonged to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Rtd).
NPO Reported that Wike had on Tuesday led officials of the FCT Administration to the land.
They were however challenged by the military personnel who denied them access to the land.
Wike, in a now viral video, would engage in fierce argument with the leader of the team.
Despite the verbal assaults from the Minister, the team leader identified as Lieutenant A.M Yerima, refused to back down as he fired back at Wike- an action which had attracted praises for Yerima by netizens and prominent members of the public.
Reacting to the development while speaking on News Central’s Breakfast programme, Adeyanju slammed Wike over what he described as his penchant for always bullying people.
The lawyer recalled cases of the Minister proceeding with demolition of people’s house despite pleas and pending court cases.
He also accused him of annexing seized land to his properties, an action he alleged to have been allowed by President Bola Tinubu over the minister’s manipulation of votes in Rivers state in favour of the President during the 2023 General election.
“Nyesom Wike has a penchant for always bullying people, harassing people. Since he became Minister of the FCT, I know so many cases where he has gone to demolish people’s land without following due process of law.
“In some cases, there was even a house he demolished in Aso Drive where the person had run to court and the matter was already in court.
“He still went ahead and demolished the house. He has annexed land adjacent to his home in Guzape, Asokoro area of extension.
“He has taken people’s land when people have even gone to court, when people went to Archbishop John Onaiyekan to beg. The man went to see him.
“He still did not. He went ahead to demolish people’s houses. Houses that they brought and he annexed them to his properties.
“Section one of the land use act is very clear and other provisions of the land use are very clear that that all land is vested in the governor. That the governor shall hold it in trust for the people.
“The governor shall not hold it in trust for himself, his father, or his children, or his friends, or his cronies like Nyesom Wike is doing.
“There is no equitable society that will allow what he is doing. The only reason why Nyesom Wike is allowed to do all these things that he is doing is because he wrote results for the President in Rivers State.” Adeyanju said.