The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has thrown his weight behind a naval officer who clashed with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a tense confrontation over a disputed plot of land in Abuja.
Badaru, while addressing reporters, said the naval officer, Lieutenant Yerima, acted within the bounds of professionalism and would not face any punishment. “We will always protect our officers. He has done well. We won’t allow anything to happen to him,” the minister said, reaffirming his confidence in the officer’s conduct.
The confrontation reportedly occurred over a parcel of land said to belong to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd). The incident has since sparked a wave of reactions, with conflicting narratives emerging over the true ownership of the property and what transpired when Wike personally visited the site.
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Badaru’s open defence of Yerima is expected to heighten public interest in the matter, especially as it pits two powerful figures in President Bola Tinubu’s administration against each other. Analysts say the row underscores long-standing tensions between the military establishment and civil authorities over property rights and jurisdiction in the capital city.
So far, the FCT Minister’s office has yet to respond to Badaru’s comments, and neither Yerima nor Gambo has made any public statement regarding the dispute. It remains unclear whether the Federal Capital Development Authority or the Navy will initiate a formal inquiry.
Land controversies in Abuja often expose deeper issues around power, privilege, and legality. This latest episode, involving senior government and military officials, has already become one of the most talked-about stories in the nation’s capital, further blurring the line between public duty and personal interest in Nigeria’s elite circles.
