Military and paramilitary veterans who participated in various operations, including ECOMOG, Operation Zaman Lafiya and Operation Pulo Shield, have raised concerns over what they describe as an alleged encroachment on land allocated to them in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The veterans, who are beneficiaries of a welfare housing initiative coordinated through a Special Purpose Vehicle known as the Special Vehicle Plant (SVP) Trust Scheme, claim that construction activities have recently commenced on the land, which they say forms part of their approved housing project.

Speaking through their representatives, a retired Army officer Ayo Olufemi who chose not to mention his rank, the group urged relevant authorities to ensure that all issues relating to the land dispute are handled strictly in accordance with the law. They maintained that Nigeria remains a country governed by the rule of law under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the veterans, the land in dispute is identified as Plot 2303 in Asokoro Cadastral Zone A04, an area that shares boundaries with other military lands belonging to the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The group explained that the plot was allocated for the development of a veterans’ welfare housing scheme under the SVP Trust arrangement. Under the framework, the SVP was responsible for site planning, subdivision of the land, allocation to individual beneficiaries, and coordination of Right of Occupancy documentation through the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

They stated that beneficiaries opened individual land application files with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and received official acknowledgements before land offer letters were issued in 2015.

The veterans further claimed that the project complied with regulatory requirements, including approvals from relevant departments within the FCDA, and that about ₦400 million was reportedly paid as part of statutory ground rent obligations requested by the FCTA.

However, the group alleged that officials linked to the Nigerian Army recently began construction activities on the plot, which they believe falls within the land allocated for the veterans’ housing scheme.
In a petition addressed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the veterans called for government intervention to prevent what they described as an attempted takeover of the land pending clarification of ownership and boundary issues.

According to the petitioners, the Nigerian Army was previously allocated a neighbouring parcel identified as Plot 2302, measuring approximately 248 hectares, from a larger expanse of land originally designated for military formations and barracks development in the Asokoro area.

They stated that the area behind Mogadishu Cantonment had been earmarked primarily for barracks and accommodation for military personnel.

The veterans also said the allocation of Plot 2303 to their welfare scheme followed representations made to the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in recognition of the role played by Nigerian troops during the ECOMOG operations in Sierra Leone.
Beneficiaries of the scheme, they added, had fulfilled statutory obligations, including the payment of required ground rents and other administrative charges.

The group further alleged that attempts were made by individuals linked to Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL) and other parties to merge Plot 2303 with the adjoining Plot 2302 belonging to the Army.

They also claimed that a Memorandum of Understanding was subsequently signed with developers for the construction of residential units described as “modern affordable homes,” with projected selling prices reportedly ranging between ₦81 million and ₦125 million.
According to the petitioners, construction work on the disputed area reportedly began on December 24, 2025.

The veterans stated that some infrastructure earlier developed on the land — including access roads and other facilities constructed in line with FCDA approvals — may have been affected by the ongoing activities.

They also raised broader concerns about the management of military land allocations in the Asokoro area.

According to the petition, Plot 2302 was originally designated for additional barracks development, including a proposed Phase 2 expansion of the facility now known as Tinubu Barracks Phase 1.

However, the veterans alleged that portions of the land were subsequently transferred or sold to institutions, developers and private individuals over time, contrary to the original land-use designation.

They further claimed that only a fraction of the approximately 248 hectares allocated to the Army has reportedly been developed for barracks infrastructure.

The petitioners also alleged that Nigerian Army Properties Limited has continued to transact on parts of the Army’s land allocation through arrangements involving developers and intermediaries.

The veterans argued that these developments may have contributed to boundary disputes involving neighbouring plots, including the land allocated for their housing project.

They therefore called on the FCT Minister to order an immediate review of activities on the disputed land and ensure that all actions comply with existing approvals and legal processes.

In addition, the group requested the establishment of an independent inquiry to examine allegations relating to the allocation and disposal of military land in the Asokoro area.

They also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate claims concerning the alleged diversion or sale of portions of the Army’s land.

Efforts to obtain official responses from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Army Properties Limited, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The Independent Public Service Accountability Watch (IPSAW) on Thursday staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately dismiss the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, over what it described as gross incompetence and abuse of public office.

The protest was led by the Executive Director of IPSAW, Ambassador Stephen Eriba, who accused the NAFDAC boss of unlawfully enforcing a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and 200ml PET bottles.

Addressing journalists during the protest, Eriba said the agency’s action violated the provisions of the National Alcohol Policy already approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and currently in force.

He also alleged that the enforcement contradicted a presidential directive restraining NAFDAC from disrupting the operations of affected companies pending the outcome of a joint committee set up to review the matter.

According to him, the enforcement of the ban could trigger widespread economic and social consequences, including potential civil unrest and disruption of businesses involved in the production and distribution of the affected products.

He further argued that the decision ignored a resolution of the House of Representatives issued after a public hearing with key stakeholders on March 14, 2024, which urged NAFDAC to halt the ban and described the move as anti-people.

IPSAW maintained that the introduction of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles was designed to cater to low-income adult consumers who prefer smaller and more affordable quantities, stressing that banning the products would deny such consumers the freedom of choice.

The group also disputed claims that sachet alcohol encourages abuse, insisting that smaller packaging may instead discourage excessive consumption typically associated with larger containers.

Eriba noted that local manufacturers produce sachet alcohol under hygienic conditions and with regulatory approval, including certification from NAFDAC itself.

He added that industry operators have invested heavily in public awareness campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage drinking.

While expressing support for regulatory efforts aimed at removing unsafe products from the market, IPSAW said such decisions should be based on empirical evidence rather than what it called emotional or unverified claims.

The group warned that enforcing the ban could lead to job losses across the alcohol production value chain, encourage the proliferation of illicit and unregulated products, and result in revenue losses for the government.

IPSAW therefore urged President Tinubu to take decisive action by removing the NAFDAC Director-General from office, arguing that her continued stay in office was no longer in the public interest.

After years of legal battles and prolonged uncertainty, a group of Military veterans has finally secured victory at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which ruled in their favour in a dispute involving landed property and restoration of Major General Ibrahim Sani’s rank.

The judgement brings to a close a long-lingering case between the veterans and the Nigerian Army, ending a protracted legal contest that had moved through several layers of the judicial system before reaching the nation’s apex court.

At the heart of the dispute was a parcel of land Plot 2303 Asokoro Cad A04 behind Mogadishu Cantonment (formerly Sani Abacha Barracks) originally allocated to veterans who served the country in various military operations, including peacekeeping missions under the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and other national assignments.

The veterans had argued that the property was meant to serve as part of their welfare and post-service entitlements in recognition of their sacrifices during active service, particularly in conflict and peacekeeping operations.

Following years of litigation, the Supreme Court affirmed the position of the veterans, ruling that their claims were valid and that the rights attached to the property should be respected.

In the case marked SC/1497C/2019, the Nigerian Army is the appellant while Major General I. Sani is the respondent on behalf of the veterans. The judgment was delivered on January 30, 2026, by Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya (Justice, Supreme Court) alongside alongside other four justices of the apex court.

According to the court records, the appeal stems from an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, delivered on April 18, 2019, which nullified the ruling of the Special Court Martial and ordered a retrial of the case. The Special Court Martial had earlier convicted the General and sentenced him to a reduction in rank and restitution of money contributed by Military veterans for infrastructure development.

Court documents indicate that the case originated from allegations involving the misuse of public service property, falsification of documents and related offences under the Armed Forces Act. The charges were linked to issues surrounding an uncharted land bordering Nigeria Army’s Land Plot 2302 behind Mogadishu Cantonment Asokoro Abuja.

The respondent, who served as a Major General and Chief of Transformation and Innovation at Army Headquarters at the time, was arraigned before the General Court Martial on a nine-count charge. After the trial, the court martial found him guilty on several counts and imposed sanctions, though he was acquitted on some of the charges.

However, stakeholders at that time expressed concern on the jurisdiction of the special military court marshal to preside over land matters as provided in the incorporation of the Land Use Act of 1978, which is solidified in Section 315(5)(d).

Dissatisfied with the outcome, the General approached the Court of Appeal, which subsequently ruled in his favour, setting aside the conviction and directing that the matter be retried.

However, the Nigerian Army challenged the appellate court’s ruling at the Supreme Court, arguing that the Appeal Court erred in law by overturning the decision of the Special Court Martial.
“On the whole, having resolve the duo issues against the appellant, the destiny of the appeal is obvious. It is destitute of any morsel of merit and the reserve penalty of dismissal. Consequently, I dismiss the appeal. Accordingly, the judgement of the lower court, in appeal No. CA/A/791C/2017, delivered on the 18th April, 2019, which set aside the decision of the GCM and ordered a retrial of the respondent in charge No. NA /COAS/G/1/39, delivered on the 20th July, 2017 is hereby affirmed in it’s entirety.”

• OBANDE FESTUS OGBUINYA (Justice, Supreme Court).

In a further clarification, an Abuja based Legal Practitioner explained that the term “set aside” as uphold in the ruling of the Apex Court simply means that the court has vacated or void a prior order, as if the order/judgement never existed i.e that the Court Martial effort/exercise never existed.

During the proceedings, the apex court also considered a preliminary objection raised by the respondent, which sought to dismiss the appeal on grounds that some of the grounds of appeal were incompetent. After reviewing the arguments of both parties, the court dismissed the objection and proceeded to consider the substantive issues raised in the appeal.

The decision was received with excitement and relief among the affected veterans, many of whom had waited for years to see justice served after what they described as a difficult and exhausting legal journey.

Some of the surviving beneficiaries of the land and next of kin of the deceased expressed gratitude to the judiciary for standing by the principles of justice and fairness, noting that the ruling restores confidence in the rule of law.

Family members of some of the deceased veterans who died while waiting for the resolution of the case also welcomed the judgement, saying it brings honour to the memory of those who served the country but did not live to witness the outcome.

Legal observers commented that the ruling underscores the authority of the courts in safeguarding the rights and welfare of military personnel, especially in matters concerning their entitlements after service.

For the veterans, however, the judgement represents more than a legal victory. It marks the end of a long struggle and the beginning of the renewed hope agenda of the current administration for military veterans.