By Emeka Amaefula
LAWYER CALLS FOR ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF SOLDIERS WHO THREATENED FCT MINISTER NYESOM WIKE IN ABUJA
ABUJA — A tense standoff between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and a group of armed soldiers guarding a disputed construction site in Abuja has triggered nationwide outrage, following reports that the soldiers allegedly threatened to open fire on the Minister and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The startling confrontation occurred on Tuesday 11th of November 2025 during Wike’s routine inspection tour of ongoing development projects across the city. Trouble reportedly began when the Minister ordered an immediate halt to work at a massive property under construction, which was allegedly lacking both title documents and building approval.
According to eyewitnesses, the property is said to belong to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd). Soldiers stationed at the site allegedly resisted the Minister’s directive and, in a dramatic twist, threatened to shoot if the Minister and his team refused to vacate the premises.
“Impunity Cannot Continue,” Says Lawyer Princewill Dike
A Port Harcourt–based legal practitioner, Princewill Dike, has strongly condemned the soldiers’ actions, describing the incident as “an act of lawlessness and impunity that must not be tolerated in a democratic society.”
In a press statement issued shortly after the confrontation, Dike called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the soldiers involved, “The Minister gave a lawful order to stop illegal construction activities without valid title or approval,” Dike said. “Instead of compliance, soldiers were deployed to intimidate and threaten him. Such impunity is unacceptable in any civilized nation.”
He further alleged that the soldiers acted under the instruction of their principal, the former naval chief, who reportedly ignored the FCT Minister’s directive to halt work at the property.
“This Is an Insult to the Presidency”
Dike went beyond condemning the act as a personal assault on Wike, insisting that it represented a direct affront to the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who constitutionally vested executive powers over the FCT in the Minister.
“Unbeknownst to them, it is not the Minister they harassed, but the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces himself,” Dike declared. “Every action taken against the FCT Minister in the discharge of his lawful duties is an attack on the Presidency.”
The lawyer commended Wike’s courage and firmness in standing up to impunity, describing him as “a man who never bows to threats or compromises the rule of law.” “The Dike ogwu Wike we know will never fold his arms and watch illegality thrive,” he said. “Those soldiers of impunity must be brought to book.”
A Battle for the Soul of Abuja
Since assuming office, Minister Wike has embarked on a bold and controversial campaign to restore order to the Federal Capital Territory’s master plan. His uncompromising enforcement of building regulations and land-use laws has drawn both praise and criticism—especially from influential figures whose structures have been marked for demolition.
Tuesday’s confrontation, analysts say, highlights the growing tension between civil authority and military influence in the capital — a development seen as a test of Nigeria’s democratic resolve and commitment to the rule of law.
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army nor Vice Admiral Gambo had officially responded to the allegations. However, calls from legal practitioners and civil society organizations for a full-scale investigation continue to gather momentum.
For now, Abuja remains on edge, as Nigerians watch to see whether justice will prevail — or whether power will once again override accountability.
————–Emeka Amaefula Jp —–+234(0)8111813069—–
