Title: Whistleblower Queried After Detention Over Alleged Leak of FCT Land Scandal Date Published: 04 July 2025 Description: The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a formal query to Mr. Hassan Shahru Mairiga, a Land Resource Officer, just 24 hours after his release from what rights groups have described as unlawful detention linked to a high-level land allocation scandal.Mairiga, who spent eight days in police custody, was released after intense public outcry and legal intervention. According to human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, the FCDA\'s decision to query the officer is a retaliatory move aimed at silencing whistleblowers and shielding alleged corruption within the administration.In a letter dated July 4, 2025, and signed by Acting Director of Administration, Uzo Udegbunam, Mairiga was accused of “unauthorized disclosure of official information,” “breach of oath of secrecy,” and “conduct unbecoming of a public officer”—charges described in detail under the Public Service Rules (PSR).The letter warned that the alleged misconduct, if proven, could attract disciplinary action, and gave Mairiga 24 hours to submit a written defense.However, Sowore claimed in a public statement that the query was part of a cover-up designed to punish Mairiga for leaking documents that reportedly exposed questionable land allocations allegedly linked to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike — including plots allegedly allocated to members of his own family.> “Rather than investigate the corruption, the FCDA is persecuting the whistleblower,” Sowore wrote. “This is a clear case of abuse of power and intimidation of civil servants who dare to expose the rot in the system.” Sowore further alleged that the query was issued as a condition for Mairiga’s release, branding the entire process as a miscarriage of justice. The activist commended Nigerians who stood firm during the officer’s detention and pledged continued support for his legal defense.The FCTA has not issued a public statement addressing the allegations of illegal land allocations or the circumstances surrounding Mairiga’s detention and subsequent query.Civil society organizations are now calling for an independent investigation into both the land scandal and the alleged abuse of administrative authority. The case has sparked national concern about whistleblower protection and accountability within the Nigerian civil service.  Attached Images: 5266f6e89536331c5205e91ad995852d2683e5580d7313fa9befc43f5c9d8fe0.jpg, 517b0c5189dc584caa8650b29133bcce0e59c6ea3ba713751901fb0a35a8ec1c.jpg Attached Video: None