A Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Mr. Princewill Dike, has called for the arrest and prosecution of soldiers who obstructed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from accessing a property in Abuja on Tuesday.
Dike’s statement followed the altercation between the minister and military personnel at a property undergoing development in the FCT.
The military personnel stated that they were stationed at the site by a former Chief of Naval Staff, the owner of the property, following the persistent harassment and intimidation of workers at the site by officials from the FCTA.
In a video that circulated widely on social media, a naval officer identified as Lieutenant A.M. Yerima was seen informing the FCT Minister that he was acting under orders from his principal, (retd.) Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.
However, Minister Wike maintained that the property in question lacked the requisite building approval.
Despite this, the soldiers denied the minister and his officials access to the site.
Reacting to the incident, Dike condemned the actions of the military personnel.
Dike questioned why the former naval chief would defy the minister’s directive to halt all development on properties in the FCT that lacked a Title of Instrument and building approval.
He described the confrontation as a disrespectful challenge to the authority of the minister, who represents the federal government in the nation’s capital.
He stated: “Impunity cannot continue in this country. What occurred between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and certain soldiers in the FCT should be condemned by all Nigerians.
“Instead of complying, soldiers were deployed to confront the minister by the illegal owner of the property, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.
“The soldiers threatened to shoot the minister and officials of the FCTA Department of Development Control. Yet, Minister Wike remained steadfast and unthreatened.”
Dike further emphasized that the harassment extended beyond the minister, representing a direct affront to President Bola Tinubu, who had delegated authority to Wike for matters concerning the FCT.
“Unbeknownst to them, it is not the minister they harassed, but the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, who authorized him to act on his behalf in all matters relating to the FCT.
“The Wike we know will not allow this property to be developed unlawfully, and the soldiers who acted with impunity must be held accountable.”
