Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied reports alleging that he donated a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer who was recently involved in a heated confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The incident, which took place on Tuesday during an inspection at a disputed property in the Gaduwa District of Abuja, drew widespread public attention after a video surfaced online showing Wike and the naval officer exchanging words. Lt. Yerima was reportedly defending what he described as Nigerian Navy property, while Wike insisted on carrying out his official duties as minister.
Following the viral video, several social media posts particularly on Facebook claimed that Atiku, in solidarity with the officer, had rewarded him with a Toyota SUV. However, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, dismissed the story as baseless and misleading, emphasizing that there was no truth to the report.
In a post shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Ibe clarified:
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not gift Lt. 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 disregarded.”
Atiku’s camp described the viral claim as yet another attempt to spread misinformation and stir unnecessary political controversy. The statement urged Nigerians and the media to verify information before sharing, noting that the former vice president remains focused on national unity and credible leadership discourse rather than social media distractions.
