FCT Mininister Wike’s son submits American passport in controversial $2.1m land acquisition case

Jordan Wike, son of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, presented his American passport at the FCT High Court in Abuja in continuation of his defence in a suit involving a $2.1 million Abuja land allocation scam.

The suit was instituted by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited who alleged that Mr Wike received $2.1 million in cash from them last year to help facilitate the acquisition of hectares of land in two choice areas of Abuja.

The judge, Sylvanus Oriji, ordered Mr Wike, the minister’s son, on Monday to produce his American passport following a dispute over his whereabouts on 25 October 2025, the date the claimants said the minister’s son received $2.1 million cash from them at a residence in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Mr Wike, who has denied receiving money from the claimants, had told the court on Monday that he was not in Nigeria on the said date, saying he had travelled outside Nigeria with his American passport.

But the claimants maintained tha they delivered the money to Mr Wike to help them facilitate the acquisition of land in Abuja after they met in London and established a relationship.

They alleged that Mr Wike agreed to acquire 30 hectares of land at Katampe and Guzape, respectively, for a fee of $2.1 million.

The minister’s son allegedly told the claimants that $2 million was for his father, the minister, and $100,000 for himself.

The claimants said they delivered the $2.1 million in cash to Mr Wike on 26 September 2025 in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani.

They also said Onor Sandy, who accompanied Mr Wike, was present when the minister’s son received the money.

According to the claimants, Mr Wike, whose father previously served as Rivers State governor before becoming FCT minister, went “incommunicado” after receiving the money.

The claimants said they later discovered that the plots were owned by a company, which was preparing to begin developing them.

They said they demanded a refund on 31 October 2025, but got no positive response, prompting them to institute their suit to recover their money.

But Mr Wike denied the allegations, Sahara Reporters reported.

During Monday’s proceedings, Mr Wike, led by his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), adopted his statement on oath against the suit.

His lawyer tendered through him.

Mr Wike maintained his innocence during cross-examination by the claimants’ lawyer, Hamza Dantani.

He denied any knowledge of the whole transaction.

The claimants’ lawyer, Mr Dantani, then applied to the court to ask Mr Wike to write his full name and his signature on a plain paper five times each. The defence did not oppose the application, which the court granted promptly.

Fielding further questions, Mr Wike was asked where he was on 26 September 2025.

Responding, he said he was outside the country, and in response to another question, he said he travelled outside Nigeria with his American passport. The minister’s son said he could produce the passport if asked.

It was at this point that Mr Dantani applied to the court to compel Mr Wike to produce his American passport in court, a request the judge granted.

Mr Oriji then adjourned the matter until Wednesday.

This case is the latest in the series of land acquisition controversies involving Mr Wike and his father, the minister. (Premium Times)