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Tag: Naval Officer

  • More facts emerge on Wike, Naval officer face-off as FCTA clarifies land status

    More facts emerge on Wike, Naval officer face-off as FCTA clarifies land status

    Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA) have taken responsibility for the incident that occurred on Tuesday, at a disputed site on Plot 1946 Gaduwa District, involving the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a naval officer, Lt. A.M Yerima.

    A video showing Wike being blocked by naval officers from accessing a disputed property linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd), had gone viral.

    But the Director of the FCTA Department of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima, while providing a detailed account of events and clarifying the legality of the ongoing development, expressed regret over the incident.

    Galadima, who spoke to journalists after the FCT Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting, recounted the tense encounter and issued a formal apology for dragging the Minister into the matter.

    He said: “It is with a sense of commitment, emotion and regret that we address this press conference on the incident that happened on Tuesday, 11th of November, 2025, at the Gaduwa District.

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    “On the 17th of October, staff of the Department of Development Control on routine monitoring of ongoing development within the respective districts of the Federal Capital City noticed an ongoing development within the corridor of the Southern Parkway and when enquiring the necessary approval status and documents, they were met by stiff resistance and threat to shoot by men of the Nigerian Navy.

    “The matter was reported to me on the 18th. I appealed to a colleague and course mate and naval officer, to intervene and prevail on the officers on site to attend to our request. So the request was granted”.

    Galadima explained that the officers on site claimed all their approvals were with their lawyers and engineers, and that what was eventually provided was merely a letter of intent issued in 2007 by the Department of Parks and Recreation, not a formal approval.

    “We came back on Monday, the same site, I met the officer, Navy Lieutenant Yarima, and I appealed to him, please, if you have this approval, show it to us, because what was sent to us is not an approval, it’s just a letter of intent issued by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

    “So, while this discussion was going on, the lawyer came. And the lawyer said, no, the next solution is the Department of Development Control. I said, as a lawyer, there is a clear difference between submission and approval, and you know it is illegal within the prohibitions of the FCT Act of 1976 and the Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992 to commence development in the Federal Capital Territory without approval. He said he’s aware, but the solution is under process. I said, then this development is illegal”, he added.

    Galadima said he sent a distress call to the Minister due to the presence of armed men on site, which led to the public confrontation.

    He apologised to the Minister and to Nigerians for the tense situation, while reinforcing that the development was unauthorized.

    The director said; “I want to sincerely apologize to the Honorable Minister for dragging him into this situation on that fateful Tuesday. On that fateful Tuesday, when we were there to enforce the directive of the Honorable Minister, we noticed the impending danger because armed men were strategically positioned, ready to shoot.

    “And seeing this, I sent a distress call to the Honorable Minister to come to the site for an on-the-spot assessment. And on getting there, that ugly incident happened, which I’m really sorry to the Honorable Minister, I apologize to the Honorable Minister, indeed to all Nigerians for what happened”.

    The Director however emphasised that the enforcement was consistent with the laws governing urban development and land use in the FCT, including the FCT Act of 1976 and the Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992.

    The Director of Lands Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, while providing further context on the legal status of the land and why the development could not proceed, maintained that the claimants had no statutory title to the property.

    He explained that they were relying on an 18-year-old letter of intent from the Department of Parks and Recreation, which merely allowed them to manage and operate a designated park site, but did not confer any legal right of occupancy or approval to build.

    “The claimants have relied on a letter of intent issued by the Department of Parks and Recreation in 2007, 18 years ago, to develop, manage and operate a designated park site. Letter of intent, not statutory right of occupancy. I wish to make it clear that in the FCT, the only thing that gives you title to land is statutory right of occupancy. Letter of intent is not a title.

    “Since having not submitted a detailed technical proposal, no lease agreement was given to him. He did not develop and complete development on the site within one year as he didn’t build anything by 2008.”

    Nwankwoeze further stated that the letter of intent carried strict conditions, including submission of a detailed technical proposal within 21 days and completion of development within a year—none of which were met by the claimants.

    He said; “All they did was after all of those papers were withdrawn, they moved into those sites and started building illegally. Beyond not having title, in Abuja you cannot build anything without approval of the plans you submitted. Because the Department of Development Control will look at your design proposal and certify and ascertain that what you propose to develop is in line with the dictates of the master plan”.

    The officials stressed that their interventions were necessary to uphold the rule of law and proper urban planning, while also acknowledging the disruption caused to the Minister and the public perception of the incident.

  • Two suspected kidnappers of Naval officer arrested in Abuja

    Two suspected kidnappers of Naval officer arrested in Abuja

    Two suspected kidnappers linked to the abduction of Nigerian Navy Lieutenant Cynthia Akor have been arrested by operatives of the Naval Unit in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

    The suspects, identified as Buhari Adamu and Samaila Usman, were arrested alongside an accomplice, Mu’Awiya Belo, in the hilly terrain bordering Masaka in Nasarawa State.

    Lieutenant Akor was kidnapped on March 21 alongside her sister and another civilian when armed criminals stormed the gate of Maman Vatsa Estate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire on passing vehicles.

    The victims were later rescued during a joint security operation in the Karu area of Abuja, which also led to the recovery of money and other exhibits. Some relatives of the kidnappers were earlier taken into custody as part of efforts to track down the culprits.

    Following ongoing investigations, Naval operatives successfully tracked and apprehended the suspects and handed them over to the FCT Police Command on Wednesday.

    Items recovered from the suspects include four mobile phones, four ATM cards from various banks, a motorcycle, and a wristwatch, among other items.

    While handing over the suspects, Commander of the Naval Unit, Commodore Oluseyi Oladipo, credited their arrest to the effective collaboration among security agencies in the FCT.

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    “It is to be noted that despite the commendable efforts of the Armed Forces, Police and other security agencies, the FCT is still confronted by the threats of kidnapping, “one chance” abductions and car theft among others.

    Commodore Oladipo noted how a joint rescue operation was conducted when information was received about the officer’s kidnapping, adding that the operation, supported by human and technical intelligence, led to the release of the victims on March 23.

    “Thereafter, follow-up operations led to the arrest of two suspects and an accomplice. The suspects have since confessed to their involvement in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other vices. “Accordingly, the suspects and the related exhibits have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force (FCT).

    Command for further investigation and prosecution.

    “Naval Unit Abuja remains committed to actualising the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, which is a highly motivated naval force capable of shaping security outcomes in Nigeria’s maritime domain, including land-based engagements.

    “We are also deeply appreciative of the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his leadership in enhancing security for the development of the FCT.

    “The Base will continue to operate in partnership with other security agencies to keep the FCT safe and secure.”

  • Senate dismisses petition by sacked Naval Officer

    Senate dismisses petition by sacked Naval Officer

    The Senate on Wednesday dismissed a petition by a sacked Naval Officer seeking reinstatement for lack of merit.

    The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions that investigated the  matter.

    Mr. Ewato Flaubert Oluwadolapo petitioned the Senate over alleged wrongful dismissal from the services of the Nigerian Navy in 2022 allegedly without fair hearing and non-payment of his salaries and allowances by the Nigerian Navy.

    Oluwadolapo urged the Senate to look into the matter and direct the Nigerian Navy to reinstate him and pay all his outstanding salaries and allowances.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP – Edo South) in his report, observed that: “Mr. Ewato Flaubert Oluwadolapo was an officer of the Nigerian Navy from January, 2013 until the date his dismissal was confirmed by the Chief of Naval Staff i.e., on 16th June, 2022;

    “That the officer who was serving in the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard Banda, Lokoja, Kogi State, committed several infractions ranging from Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) for over a year; abandonment of duty post; and mounting of illegal roadblock along the Lokoja-Abuja Road;

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    “That the officer was demoted from the rank of a Seaman to Ordinary Seaman after being found guilty on summary trial for being on AWOL from 1st June, 2020 to 27th June, 2021 (1 year and 27 days);

    “That there was a handwritten evidence by the officer (petitioner, allegedly) pleading guilty of abandoning his duty on 26th August, 2021 and mounting an illegal roadblock in a nearby village along the Lokoja – Abuja Road in order to (allegedly) extort money from motorists; confessing that it was because he had financial challenges.

    “That the dismissal of Mr. Ewato Flaubert Oluwadolapo was not based on the AWOL he went for over a year, but as a result of the illegal roadblock he mounted which he was summarily tried and found culpable.”

    The Committee’s recommendation the Senate should dismiss the petition for lacking in merit was approved by the Senate when it was put to voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.