Former Vice President and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has firmly denied claims circulating on social media that he gifted a brand new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer who confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in a now viral video.
The report, which has been trending across several online platforms and blogs, alleged that Atiku rewarded the young officer for his bravery and courage in standing up to the minister during a heated encounter over a disputed property in Abuja’s Gaduwa area. The confrontation, which was captured on camera, quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from Nigerians and sparking heated debates about power, authority, and respect for military officers.
However, Atiku has now come forward to refute the story in its entirety, describing it as a product of deliberate misinformation aimed at misleading the public and dragging his name into unnecessary controversy.
In an official statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President clarified that there was no truth to the viral claim and urged Nigerians to disregard it completely.
“For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999 to 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 statement read.
“The story is entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public. It is another example of the growing trend of fake news being used to mislead Nigerians and cause unnecessary political tension,” he added.
Atiku’s media team also expressed concern about the alarming spread of unverified stories in the digital space, emphasizing that such actions not only misinform the public but also damage reputations. The statement further appealed to responsible journalists and media platforms to always cross check facts before publishing or sharing information online.
The false report gained traction shortly after the viral video of the confrontation between Minister Wike and Lt. Yerima began trending. In the footage, the naval officer was seen preventing the minister from accessing a disputed land site, reportedly belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff. The exchange quickly escalated, with many Nigerians applauding the officer’s composure and courage, while others criticized his tone toward the minister.
Following the incident, online commentators began speculating about potential rewards or punishments for the officer, with some accounts falsely attributing the alleged car gift to Atiku.
However, Atiku’s camp has now made it clear that the former Vice President has no connection to the matter and has not offered any form of reward to the officer.
The statement concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant against the spread of fake news and to rely on verified sources for accurate information.
Atiku also reiterated his commitment to transparency, truth, and responsible communication, noting that the rise of misinformation poses a serious threat to national discourse and unity.
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