Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained the circumstances surrounding the Minister’s altercation with some soldiers.

Olayinka claimed that a former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed in a land deal in Abuja and, instead of seeking help, resorted to using military force.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka said the disputed land was not allocated to the former Naval Chief but to a company that attempted to convert it for commercial purposes contrary to its original use.

“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 road corridor, you don’t build there,” Olayinka said.

“Then, in 2022, the company wrote to the FCT Development Authority (FCTDA), seeking approval to convert the land’s purpose to commercial use. Probably in anticipation of the Minister’s approval, the company began partitioning the land originally meant for park and recreation and sold it to people, including the former Chief of Naval Staff.

“I want to say here that the former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, and he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of coming forward to seek help, he resorted to using military might.”