Wike’s son accuses businessman, lawyer of making false claims over ‘$2.1m fraud’ case

Jordan Nyesom-Wike, son of Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has accused Safwan Garba, a businessman and his lawyer of making false claims in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged $2.1 million land deal in Abuja.

In a statement issued on behalf of Jordan, Ogwu Onoja, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), alleged that Garba’s account in the petition to contained inconsistencies.

He also accused Ibrahim Waru, Garba’s lawyer, of misrepresenting the proceedings in the pending civil suit.

Onoja said Jordan’s legal team had “exhibited” the letter in question to highlight what it described as inconsistencies in Garba’s claims.

“Safwan Garba G.Y kept that vital document away from the court by not referring to same in his pleadings,” the statement reads.

“He also failed to follow up with the EFCC having realized that the lies he told in the said letter were too conspicuous even for the blind to see.”

However, Jordan’s lawyer did not provide further details of the specific inconsistencies his team claimed to have identified.

He also rejected reports that Jordan admitted receiving $2.1 million in connection with the proposed land allocations, describing the publications as false and defamatory.

Onoja said Jordan maintained during court proceedings on September 28 and 30 that he had never met Garba or any of his agents.

The statement accused Waru of misrepresenting court proceedings during an interview with journalists on Monday.

Onoja described the interview as malicious, alleging that it had triggered media and blog reports that fuelled what the statement described as a malicious campaign against Jordan.

“Safwan Garba G.Y, instituted this action in court but it appears he is not contented with letting the court determine the matter,” Onoja said.

“It is our opinion that in view of the pending proceedings in court, it behoves the lawyers representing both parties to maintain proper professional posture rather than resort to underhand measures using the media to craft false narratives intended to paint a different picture from what has so far transpired in court in order to mislead the public.”

Jordan’s legal team warned that media organisations, bloggers and other individuals who continued to publish what it described as false claims could face civil and criminal action.

The statement comes amid a dispute over a petition Garba filed with the EFCC on December 11, 2025, accusing Jordan of fraud, obtaining money by false pretences, criminal misappropriation and conversion of $2.1 million.

In the petition, Garba alleged that Jordan claimed to have his father’s knowledge and approval to facilitate the allocation of 30 hectares of land each in Katampe and Guzape, Abuja.

The businessman alleged that Jordan demanded $2 million to facilitate the allocations and received an additional $100,000 as his personal facilitation fee.

According to the petition, the money was paid in cash on October 17, 2025, in the presence of witnesses. Garba alleged that the promised allocations were not delivered.

Jordan has denied receiving the money, telling the court that he was outside Nigeria on the date of the alleged payment.

He tendered a boarding pass in support of his position and maintained that his signature on the disputed agreement was forged.

In a separate development, Waru had asked the chief judge of the FCT high court to transfer the civil suit, citing concerns about the appearance of impartiality.

The claimants also urged the EFCC to provide an update on their petition, saying several months had passed without meaningful progress on the investigation.

The suit, marked CV/008/2026, is pending before the FCT high court. The court had fixed December 1, 2 and 14 for the continuation of the trial.

Jordan’s legal team urged the public to disregard the allegations against him, insisting that the court should determine the dispute. (TheCable)