VP Shettima's Aide Kakanda Mentions Who’s Right Between Wike and Naval Officer
- Vice President Shettima’s aide, Gimba Kakanda, defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s authority over land matters amid his viral clash with a naval officer
- Kakanda said the Land Use Act gives the FCT minister the same powers as state governors, warning that military interference undermines civilian rule
- The Vice President's aide insisted that, unless a court issues an injunction, Wike’s actions remained lawful and protected by Nigeria's Land Use Act
The debate over Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s confrontation with Naval Officer Ahmad Yerima in Abuja has drawn new insight from Gimba Kakanda, a top aide to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Kakanda, a senior special assistant to the president on research and analytics in the office of the Vice President, defended the legal authority of Wike, arguing that the criticism stems more from personal dislike than from a sound understanding of land law.
Source: Facebook
He said the uproar branding Wike a land grabber ignores the fact that, under Nigerian law, the FCT Minister wields the same land powers as state governors.
According to him, Wike’s control over land within Abuja’s jurisdiction is legally established, and any attempt by the military to obstruct that authority undermines civilian governance.
VP's aide says Wike acted lawfully
Kakanda stated that those supporting the naval officer’s actions must explain where the Armed Forces Act allows a soldier to obey an 'unlawful command' and still be protected by the doctrine of superior orders.
He said the country’s constitution and the rule of law remain supreme over military instructions.
Citing Section 5 of the Land Use Act, Gimba Kakanda explained that both governors and the FCT Minister have the power to allocate, manage, and revoke land for public purposes.
He said the law empowers them to grant rights of occupancy, impose penalties on defaulters, and review or waive conditions where necessary, with these provisions making the FCT Minister the legal trustee of all land within Abuja.
Gimba Kakanda: FCT Minister’s powers legally protected
Kakanda also pointed out that Section 28 of the Land Use Act allows revocation of land rights for overriding public interest, while Section 47 protects the Minister’s decisions from judicial interference unless a court issues a valid injunction.
“Without such an injunction, the Minister’s administrative actions stand,” he noted.
He warned that no person, including members of the armed forces, has the right to occupy or develop land in Abuja without following due process. Any land transaction outside the approval of the Minister, he said, is 'null and void'.
Kakanda concluded that while Wike’s personal appearance at the disputed site may have been unnecessary, his authority over land remains lawful.
He described the public outrage as 'emotional and political', insisting that military interference in civil administration cannot be justified under any legal framework.
“The rule of law must prevail over sentiment and military intrusion,” he said, maintaining that unless a competent court rules otherwise, the powers of the FCT Minister remain intact under the Land Use Act.
Source: Facebook
Wike opens up after clash with soldiers
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nyesom Wike condemned the alleged illegal takeover of a disputed land in Abuja by military personnel allegedly acting on the orders of a former Chief of Naval Staff.
According to a statement on Tuesday, November 11, by Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister's spokesperson, obtained by Legit.ng, he described the actions of the soldiers as unacceptable and lawless.
Wike's team said he visited the site after reportedly receiving reports that officers had driven away Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) officials enforcing their development control directives.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
