Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President has dismissed as false the viral social media claims that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer who recently clashed with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Paul Ibe, Atiku’s Media Adviser, made the clarification in a statement shared on the former vice president’s X handle on Thursday, describing the story as “entirely fabricated and without any factual basis.”
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not gift Ahmed Yerima or any other individual, a brand new Toyota SUV, contrary to the false reports currently circulating on social media.
Read also: Meet Yerima, Navy officer who clashed with Wike
“The story is entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public”, the post reads.
The viral post, which first appeared on Facebook on Wednesday, alleged that Atiku rewarded the naval officer for standing up to Wike during a heated confrontation over a disputed plot of land in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
The clash, which occurred on Tuesday, quickly became a trending topic after video footage of the altercation surfaced online.
In the clip, Wike is seen confronting Yerima, who insisted he was guarding naval property, leading to a tense standoff.
The statement, however, stressed that attempts to link the former vice president to the controversy are politically motivated and intended to mislead the public.
“The public should always verify information before sharing or believing it,” it added, reiterating that the claim about an SUV gift “has no connection whatsoever to Atiku Abubakar.”
