The Abuja land saga involving former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd.), has exposed the deep cracks in the capital’s real estate system, where deception and influence often collide. What seemed like a simple property purchase by one of Nigeria’s most decorated naval officers quickly spiraled into a public embarrassment, complete with armed soldiers, government officials, and a furious minister.
According to Lere Olayinka, FCT Minister Media Aide, in an interview monitored in Channel TV, Vice Admiral Gambo, who led the Nigerian Navy from 2021 to 2023, reportedly invested in a parcel of land in Gaduwa, Abuja, only to discover that the plot he bought was never approved for private development. The land, officially designated as a park and recreation area since 2007, belonged to Santos Estate Limited and was off-limits for residential or commercial projects. Yet, amid Abuja’s booming property market, the firm allegedly began selling portions of the land to unsuspecting investors, claiming a rezoning application was underway.
Gambo, believing he had acquired a prime commercial plot, fell for the trap. Without a valid Certificate of Occupancy or any development approval, he began building on the disputed site. Trouble started when officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Department of Development Control arrived to enforce a stop-work order. According to eyewitnesses, Gambo’s security team resisted and allegedly threatened the staff or anyone attempting to halt the construction.
That confrontation drew the attention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who has been cracking down on illegal structures and shady land deals since taking office. On November 11, 2025, Wike personally visited the Gaduwa site but was blocked by the soldiers guarding it. Videos of the heated exchange have since gone viral, showing the minister berating a senior army officer, A.M. Yerima, and threatening to “kill everybody here” after being denied access. The officer, however, stood his ground, sparking a tense standoff that has since dominated online discussions.
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Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, later confirmed the details on social media, accusing Gambo of abusing his retired status to intimidate government officials. “Because he was told to stop building on land he has no title to, he sent his armed military security details to attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control,” Olayinka wrote. He added that Gambo realized he had been defrauded but chose confrontation over due process.
The land in question, Plot 1946 in Gaduwa, was originally meant to serve as a green buffer zone. Urban planners say such areas are vital to Abuja’s environmental integrity and cannot be rezoned without extensive review. Yet, land speculators continue to exploit bureaucratic loopholes to deceive high-profile buyers. Our sources noted that more than half of land-related disputes in the FCT are tied to such fraudulent schemes.
This episode has become more than a personal loss for Gambo; it is now a cautionary tale about the perils of Abuja’s property market and the growing tension between powerful individuals and city authorities. Wike’s public confrontation with the naval officer has been condemned, many have spoken in strong terms against the Minister for using insulting words on an officer, who is simply obeying orders from above. However, his administration’s tough stance against land grabbing, even when it involves the elite, is worth recommending.
As investigations continue into Santos Estate Limited’s role in the scam, the scandal serves as a reminder that in Abuja’s high-stakes property scene, even admirals can be outmaneuvered by conmen armed with fake papers and grand promises.
