Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly dismissed viral social media reports claiming he presented a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer who recently confronted Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike over a contentious land matter in Abuja.
Through a statement released on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku categorically denied the allegations, describing them as wholly fabricated and without any basis in fact.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, who served as Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, did not gift Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima or any other individual a brand-new Toyota SUV, contrary to the false reports currently circulating on social media. The story is entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public,” Ibe stated.
The controversial claim first surfaced on Facebook on Wednesday, with posts suggesting that Atiku had rewarded the lieutenant following his widely publicized standoff with Wike. The false narrative quickly gained traction across various social media platforms, prompting the clarification from the former vice president’s office.
Ibe further cautioned Nigerians against the deliberate spread of misinformation aimed at tarnishing reputations or stirring public controversy.
The alleged gift story emerged in the aftermath of Tuesday’s heated exchange between Wike and Lieutenant Yerima at a disputed property in the Gaduwa District of the Federal Capital Territory. According to Lere Olayinka, Wike’s media aide, military personnel had been deployed by former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, after FCTA officials were instructed to stop developing land without proper title documents and approval.
Video footage of the incident, which went viral online, captured the tense moment when the FCT minister and the naval officer engaged in a verbal confrontation. In the video, Wike questioned the legality of the military presence, stating: “You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody.” The officer maintained that he was protecting property belonging to the former naval chief and had acted with integrity.
The confrontation has drawn reactions from several prominent Nigerians, with Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle describing it as avoidable and unnecessary, while former presidential candidate Peter Obi called it “yet another unfortunate reflection of the growing institutional disorder in our country.” Retired Chief of Army Staff General Tukur Buratai has also weighed in, calling for restraint and respect for institutional authority.
The incident occurred as part of the FCTA’s ongoing crackdown on illegal land allocations, encroachments, and unauthorized structures across the nation’s capital.